Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Winter 2008/2009 | Page 34

Photo: Courtesy of Josh Freed

FREED’S D
Citizen or

O C UM E N

Stranger

TARIES:

(coming so
2008

on)

2007

2004

2003
2002
2001

2000

1999
1997
1996
1995
1991

4 - 1993

1994
His other
films inclu
de Castro
and Entre
’s Gold
Solitude

with throughout the flight,” says Freed. “Nor would I expect my heart
surgeon to be brainstorming gags for his next stand-up routine while
he’s up to his wrists in my chest.”
Next up on Freed’s schedule is a documentary about immigration
systems around the world. The documentary, Citizen or Stranger, will be
a reverse look at immigration, from the perspective of new citizens. At
the heart of the film is a Somalian family that has had approximately
150 family members immigrate to some 25 countries around the world.
By tracking down as many of them as possible and looking at their
experiences, Freed is hoping to uncover which country’s system works
best – whether it be here in Canada “where immigrants are encouraged to
wear multicultural clothing and sing songs”, Freed’s words, or in Switzerland
“where the immigration process takes 12 years and all immigrants are
encouraged to become just like the rest of the Swiss population.”
SLEEP IS FOR SISSIES
Growing up Freed had two ambitions – to never move to Toronto, and to be
able to wake up whenever he wanted, because that meant he was calling the
shots! Currently living and working around the clock in Montreal, he seems to
have achieved that, and more. In fact one would wonder if he ever goes to sleep
at all. A self-confessed insomniac, Freed says he hasn’t slept like a baby since he
was, in fact, a baby.
Never missing a chance to tell a good story, Freed documented his trials
and tr