Beyond care: dignity

The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse is an independent government agency dedicated to defending and promoting citizens’ rights. As part of the presentation of the Prix Droits et Libertés 2021, it wanted to produce a series of testimonial videos to highlight the courage and commitment of healthcare workers in safeguarding our right to life, health and dignity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thanks to our long experience in documentary production, we’ve selected the best testimonials that are both authentic and varied. To avoid repetition and clichés, we asked participants to tell us ONE missing moment from their experience during the pandemic; ONE moment when they were challenged and stepped out of their comfort zone. To unify the series, we created a stylistic opening by filming each participant dressed from head to toe in their protective gear, which they gradually removed. It’s a beautiful allegory of the story they tell us… without masks.

The result: a series of inspiring and moving stories, told in the present tense.

The five 3-minute portraits were shown on the big screen at the award ceremony, and then made available on the organization’s YouTube channel. A one-minute teaser was also produced, featuring highlights from the series.