BEYOND THE BLUE LENS

It would seem little has changed in the drug-infested Downtown
Eastside since a group of Vancouver cops called the Odd Squad armed
themselves with cameras and captured the lives of six addicts in what
would become an award-winning documentary seen around the world.

Produced by the National Film Board and released in 1999, Through a
Blue Lens was an eye-opening but brutal look in Canada's poorest
postal code. Now, eight years later, comes Tears for April: Beyond
the Blue Lens, a follow-up film that brings the same addicts' stories
full circle, including that of April Reoch, a 17-year-old mother
whose life ended due to drugs and violence. Her story is recounted by
retired police officer Al Arsenault, who first met April in the late
1990s and warned her to get off the mean streets of the DTES.

But not all the stories are tragic. Officers also recount the
struggles of Randy Miller and his dramatic transformation from one of
the area's most hardcore heroin and cocaine addicts, through recovery
and his ultimate reception of the B.C. Coast Foundation's Courage to
Come Back Award.

The film, directed by Ken Jubenvill and Arsenault, will hit the
festival circuit this year.

Through a Blue Wall, Odd Squad Prod-uctions' annual fund-raising gala,
takes place this Friday at the Sheraton Van-couver Wall Centre Hotel,
and will feature a preview of the film as well as music by Shante and
Jim Byrnes. For more information, call 604-408-9945.