Canadian Women Film Directors Database
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The Strongest Man in the World

Directed by Halya Kuchmij
Canada, 1980 (documentary, 28 minutes, colour, English)

Film Description:
"The film's subject is Mike Swistun of Olha, Manitoba, who in the years following 1923, toured as a circus strong man with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey, met magician Harry Houdini, and toured as Swistun the Magician, Master of 42 Tricks and Illusions and Professor of Hypnotism. The film combines interviews with an elderly Swistun at his family farm in Olha with archival photographs and film footage to not only tell his story, but the story of the hardships experienced by early Ukrainian immigrants to the Prairies. [...] In addtion to Kuchmij, the production crew included Allan Kroeker, Don Campbell, Elise Swerhone, Lara Mazur, and Brad Caslor."
-- Archives of Manitoba (source)

Film Credits (partial):
Written by: Robert Duncan
Produced by: Halya Kuchmij
Cinematography: Allan Kroeker
Film Editing: Allan Kroeker
Production Company: Kino Films
(sources)

Award won by The Strongest Man in the World


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