Smell of Burning Ants, The

“The Smell of Burning Ants” is a haunting documentary on the pains of growing up male. It explores the inner and outer cruelties that boys perpetrate and endure. Through formative events of a boy’s life, we come to understand the ways in which men can become emotionally disconnected and alienated from their feminine side. The common dismissal that “boys will be boys” evolves into the chilling realization that boys frequently become angry, destructive, and emotionally disabled men. “The Smell of Burning Ants” illustrates how boys are socialized by fear, power and shame. The burning of ants is one of the metaphors for the impact that boyhood violence has on us all. Though the film focuses on the painful aspects of male socialization, it also incorporates subtle humour and moments of boyhood celebration. “The Smell of Burning Ants” is entertaining as well as educational, and provides a unique opportunity to begin the process of healing the wounds of childhood. Winner of 18 awards including: Grand Prize, Hamburg International Film Festival; Best of Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival; Best Documentary, Tampere International Short Film Festival; First Prize, Short Films, Locarno International Film Festival; First Place, Film, Athens International Film and Video Festival; Best of the Best, Charlotte Film Festival; Best Experimental Film, Melbourne International Film Festival; Artistic Courage Award, Florida Film Festival. Also screened at the Sundance Film Festival.