A Desert Between Us and Them

This cinematic documentary explores what makes the War of 1812 a modern war. It steps back in time to experience the conflict through the eyes of the people of Southwestern Ontario, who spent several years living in a war zone. Some died in combat, but many more had their homes destroyed, their livelihoods ruined, or their crops stolen. Thousands became refugees, clinging for survival to the British Army. Some chose to aid the Americans and died for their disloyalty at the hands of the British. Others became insurgents, fighting the American occupiers long after the British army abandoned them. And still others begrudgingly agreed to uphold an ancient covenant and fought against their brothers in the United States. By the time that word of peace finally came in early 1815, almost everyone living in the War's Western Theatre was impacted in some way by the conflict-and many had their lives forever altered.