CinemaOSMovie · 2004 · 0h 52m

Open Secrets

67%(2)IMDbDocumentary

This provocative documentary uncovers a lost chapter in Canadian military history: how the Armed Forces dealt with homosexual behaviour among soldiers, during and after World War II. More than 60 years later, a group of five veterans, barely adults when they enlisted, break the silence to talk about how homosexual behaviour "was even more unmentionable than cancer." Yet amidst the brutality of war, instances of sexual awakening among soldiers and officers were occuring. Initially, the Army overlooked it, but as the war advanced, they began to crack down: military tribunals, threats of imprisonment, discharge and public exposure. After the war, officers accused of homosexuality were discharged. Back home in Canada, reputations and careers were ruined. For the young men who had served their country with valour, this final chapter was often too much to bear. Based on the book Courting Homosexuals in the Military by Paul Jackson.

Directed byJosé Torrealba

Play
Status
Released
Runtime
0h 52m
Language
EN
Released
May 24, 2004
Studios
ONF | NFB

Featuring

Cast & crew

Creative team
Directed by
José Torrealba
Written by
José Torrealba

Keep watching

More like this

Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home Front9.0

Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home Front

1977 · Film

My Uncle's Friend6.0

My Uncle's Friend

2021 · Film

Vivre dans l'Allemagne en guerre7.8

Vivre dans l'Allemagne en guerre

2020 · Film

Laerte-se7.1

Laerte-se

2017 · Film

Reiwa Uprising

Reiwa Uprising

2019 · Film

Studio Visits: Richard Haines

Studio Visits: Richard Haines

2018 · Film

The Survivor

The Survivor

2022 · Film

The Ring Thing3.8

The Ring Thing

2017 · Film

Łódź Ghetto8.0

Łódź Ghetto

1989 · Film

Desolate Rome4.2

Desolate Rome

1995 · Film

Prisoners of Propaganda7.0

Prisoners of Propaganda

1987 · Film

Resistance at Tule Lake

Resistance at Tule Lake

2017 · Film

Churchill's Darkest Decision7.0

Churchill's Darkest Decision

2009 · Film

The Weight Of My Name

The Weight Of My Name

2025 · Film

FaceTime Friends

FaceTime Friends

2017 · Film

Dead Gay Men and Living Lesbians4.4

Dead Gay Men and Living Lesbians

2008 · Film

Night and Fog8.3

Night and Fog

1956 · Film

Picked for you

Recommended movies

Salinger6.4

Salinger

2013 · Film

We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company7.4

We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company

2001 · Film

The Bloody Hundredth7.2

The Bloody Hundredth

2024 · Film

Queen: Days of Our Lives8.1

Queen: Days of Our Lives

2011 · Film

Sidney6.9

Sidney

2022 · Film

The Pigeon Tunnel6.6

The Pigeon Tunnel

2023 · Film

A Secret Love7.4

A Secret Love

2020 · Film

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood6.0

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

2018 · Film

My Mom Jayne8.0

My Mom Jayne

2025 · Film

Bettie Page Reveals All6.8

Bettie Page Reveals All

2013 · Film

Jim Henson Idea Man7.8

Jim Henson Idea Man

2024 · Film

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic7.5

40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic

2020 · Film

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie7.8

STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie

2023 · Film

John Candy: I Like Me7.9

John Candy: I Like Me

2025 · Film

David Byrne's American Utopia7.5

David Byrne's American Utopia

2020 · Film

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/207.2

Avatar: The Deep Dive - A Special Edition of 20/20

2022 · Film

Stories We Tell7.1

Stories We Tell

2012 · Film

9/11: Inside the President's War Room6.9

9/11: Inside the President's War Room

2021 · Film

2000 Meters to Andriivka8.1

2000 Meters to Andriivka

2025 · Film

Gimme Danger6.9

Gimme Danger

2016 · Film