Justin Ducharme, a young Métis film student from Vancouver, resorted to sex work to support himself financially while pursuing his education away from his home community in Manitoba. Ducharme explained that he chose to engage in sex work to sustain himself and avoid returning to Manitoba, emphasizing his dedication to achieving his dreams. His commitment paid off when his debut feature film, “Seventeen,” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now set to be showcased at Vancouver’s upcoming film festival.
The plot of “Seventeen” revolves around three young Indigenous sex workers in Vancouver, each grappling with different forms of loss. Ducharme, the filmmaker, highlighted that the characters in the film navigate these challenges while striving to reclaim what they have lost. Drawing from his personal experiences, Ducharme incorporated elements of his encounters with sex work into the film, infusing authenticity into the storyline.
While “Seventeen” is not entirely autobiographical, Ducharme acknowledged that fragments of his own life are interwoven into the narrative. The film, unfolding over a span of 17 hours, emphasizes the significance of chosen family, according to Ducharme. He expressed gratitude towards the sex worker community for their mentorship and support, crediting them for enabling him to pursue his creative endeavors.
Contrary to the typical gritty portrayal of sex workers in media, Ducharme aimed to imbue “Seventeen” with tenderness and intimacy, presenting a more humanizing depiction of these individuals. By offering a different narrative perspective, Ducharme hopes to challenge societal taboos surrounding sex work and shed light on the human stories behind the profession. Through his film, Ducharme aspires to give a voice to sex workers and convey their narratives with empathy and authenticity.