Through a wild and imaginative mix of animation, photography and live action, filmmaker Danielle Sturk brings to life the often hilarious and sometimes tragic memories of her family's time working at their mom-and-pop restaurant, El Toro. For the eight DeGagné siblings, their truck stop diner on the outskirts of Winnipeg dictated all aspects of life, including school, family and eventually romance. In nine chapters, the film explores the memories of what it was like to serve as the hub of the local community, including during the 1966 blizzard, which left customers and family members stranded overnight at the diner. Rich in nostalgia, playful in narration and joyous in tone, El Toro is a masterfully crafted ode to the ties that bind. Aisha Jamal
Canadian Spectrum program sponsored by TVO.