Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.

It’s 1981 in Liberia, West Africa. Cindor Reeves is a young man in a small town.  But when his sister marries strongman Charles Taylor, his life totally changes. He moves from his humble home into a mansion in Monrovia the capital. He gains wealth, glamour and a father-figure to learn from. Taylor teaches him right from wrong. So he us crushed when he discovers his idol is actually a corrupt politician, amassing great wealth by exploiting everything from rubber plantations to blood diamonds. And when Taylor begins a campaign of mass killings, transnational wars armed with child soldiers, blood diamonds, international weapon deals and even collusion with Al Qaeda, Cindor decides it’s time to act. He presents his findings to an international court intending to stop the violence. But this places him in great physical danger. Is Cindor blowing a whistle… or betraying his own family?

Betrayal is a new documentary that follows the unusual case of Cindor Reeves and Charles Taylor over decades on the world stage. It’s narrated by the film’s subject himself, supplemented by talking heads in the form of journalists, lawyers and public figures.  The documentary is illustrated with amazing period news footage and background materials. It’s directed by prize-winning Toronto-based filmmaker Lena Macdonald, who appeared on this show a decade ago about he first documentary feature, the highly-personal Mom and Me. (Full disclosure, I worked with Lena on an early stage of Betrayal, and am blown away by the final version.)

I spoke with Lena MacDonald in person at CIUT.

Betrayal is having its world premiere at Hotdocs on Tuesday April 29th, 2025.