#132: A Conversation with the Creators of "Better Left Unsaid", Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila

I had a fascinating discussion with Curt Jaimungal and Desh Amila, the creators of a new documentary called "Better Left Unsaid".  It is great to see more people concerned with our political polarization. Link below to the documentary.

Better Left Unsaid
Better Left Unsaid is an independent documentary that explores the dangerous tactics of extremism across the Western political landscape. For many, extreme right-wing ideologies are easily recognized by overt racism, ethno- nationalism, white supremacy, and the like. The extreme left, on the other hand, takes on a more philosophically nuanced position, which some argue is no less harmful, but often takes on a more understated form in public discourse. Confronting, impactful and reflective, Better Left Unsaid leads viewers on a nuanced exploration of the West’s past and current political disposition, which is often overlooked in classrooms and the mainstream media alike.
Links
Better Left Unsaid Film - https://betterleftunsaidfilm.com/
https://bit.ly/blu_preorder
Desh Amila's Website - https://deshamila.com/
Curt Jaimungal's Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheoriesofEverything/

Desh Amila is a documentary filmmaker and serial entrepreneur. His first documentary, Islam and the Future of Tolerance featuring Sam Harris and Maajid Nawaz, became the #1 iTunes download worldwide (Documentary Category) during its release in 2018, and can be found on Amazon Prime. In 2011, Amila founded Think Inc., a first of its kind ‘edutainment’ company that tours intellectuals throughout Australia and New Zealand. The company’s debut event was a conference held in Melbourne, featuring speakers such as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, historian of science Michael Shermer, political activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and the late socio-political critic Christopher Hitchens. In 2018, Amila sold Think Inc. and launched a new media company, This Is 42. 

Born in Trinidad, raised in Toronto, Curt Jaimungal became interested in filmmaking while studying mathematical physics at the University of Toronto, where he founded the largest growing club on campus, the University of Toronto Television. From humble beginnings, he began his first feature film at 26, which focused on mental health issues. I’m Okay, a film about the depression, self-hate, and suicidal ideations that follow the loss of a long- term relationship, had several screenings in Toronto even years after the film’s release. Subsequently, he became interested in philosophy and psychology while starting Toronto’s first film incubator -- indiefilmTO -- where he taught filmmakers how to overcome psychological barriers that hold them back from filmmaking. Observing increasing political extremism, Curt began to suspect there is more to what motivates the extremes than the ostensible nobleness they proclaim, sending him on a journey that has led to Better Left Unsaid.