Clark Ferguson

OUTREMONT AND THE HASIDIM reveals the challenges of accommodating the “Hasidim” – or ultra-Orthodox Jews – in the affluent Montréal borough of Outremont.​Some 7,000 Hasidim live in or near this choice neighbourhood of Québec’s Francophone elite. After settling there more than 70 years ago, the Hasidim are a rapidly growing minority group which today represents about 23% of Outremont’s population.​Thanks to unprecedented access to this self-isolated community, the film lifts the veil on its practices, traditions, music and life as they had never before been seen on Canadian television, without ignoring the community’s expectations, fears. and hopes.

Sneak up is about a song and dance known as “sneak up”. It is a traditional dance Caplin saw at their powwow growing up, it intrigued them and always was their favorite. They decided to rotoscope the dance in hopes of conveying a visual story. The dance is meant to convey the movement of a warrior, tracking down his enemies and sneaking up for an attack.