Open Secrets

This provocative documentary uncovers a lost chapter in Canadian military history: how the Armed Forces dealt with homosexual behaviour among soldiers, during and after World War II. More than 60 years later, a group of five veterans, barely adults when they enlisted, break the silence to talk about how homosexual behaviour "was even more unmentionable than cancer." Yet amidst the brutality of war, instances of sexual awakening among soldiers and officers were occuring. Initially, the Army overlooked it, but as the war advanced, they began to crack down: military tribunals, threats of imprisonment, discharge and public exposure. After the war, officers accused of homosexuality were discharged. Back home in Canada, reputations and careers were ruined. For the young men who had served their country with valour, this final chapter was often too much to bear. Based on the book Courting Homosexuals in the Military by Paul Jackson. Directed by José Torrealba - 2003 | 52 min Learn more about this film in this edition of the Curator's Perspective → https://bit.ly/3SvnHiU Watch more free films on NFB.ca → http://bit.ly/YThpNFB Subscribe to our newsletter → http://bit.ly/NFBnewsletter Follow us on Facebook → http://bit.ly/ytfbNFB Follow us on Instagram → http://bit.ly/2FdmRol Follow us on Twitter → http://bit.ly/yttwNFB Download our free iOS Apps → http://apple.co/2dbva4h Download our free Android Apps → http://bit.ly/2dbvHmO