Under Pressure, a short film by Nova Scotia documentarian Andre Anderson, shares insights from Dennis Adams Jr., an African Nova Scotian man, as he reflects on the everyday weight of expectations around masculinity and emotional restraint placed on Black men — and how counselling and self-expression
became his tools for release, clarity, and growth.
In the film, Adams discusses vulnerability, not as weakness, but as survival, healing, and self-reclamation.
Filmmaker Anderson says, “My hope is that Under Pressure can act as a spark for a broader, more compassionate dialogue around mental health, care, and healing here at home.” Adds Anderson: “This feels especially important right now, as more communities across Nova Scotia reckon with the long-
term mental-health effects of silence, stigma, and generational pressure, particularly in Black communities, where therapy and emotional openness have often been dismissed or inaccessible.”
A previous documentary byAnderson, Standing Tall, profiled in the February 2025 issue of The Masthead News, features the reflections of Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard and former provincial deputy
minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, Dr. Késa Munroe-Anderson.
Anderson is currently at work on his first feature-length documentary, centred on Dr. Mayann Francis, the first and, so far, only African Nova Scotian to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
“We’re preparing to film at Government House, with the hope of premiering the documentary there later this year,” says Anderson. “It’s a moment that feels both historically and symbolically significant.”
Social worker Dennis Adams Jr. (left), shown here with filmmaker Andre Anderson, says talk therapy was critical in helping him learn to manage the pressures placed on Black men in particular: “I wanted
someone to challenge me to look at things in a different way, and it’s made me a better person.”
Photo credit: Dean Anderson
2025 Human rights award recipient Andre Anderson is one of five 2025 Human Rights Award recipients recognized by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Anderson was
recognized for his work to enhance racial equity and community empowerment
rooted in the lived experiences and cultural legacy of African Nova Scotians.
The award he received is named in honour of the late Burnley Allan (Rocky) Jones, an African Nova Scotian lawyer and activist.
Documentary video links
Under Pressure: youtube/LAZbot-qULg?si=DSQalQnSC7Q0XZSj
Standing Tall: youtube.com/watch?v=gI5uBfzAPII
Q&A with filmmaker Andre Anderson
What inspired you to make Under Pressure?
The film came from noticing how often Black men are taught to endure rather than
express. Dennis’ honesty gave shape to a truth many men live quietly—that pressure
doesn’t disappear when ignored; it accumulates.
Why was it important to centre therapy and emotional reflection in the film?
Because healing can’t happen without language. Therapy gave Dennis a mirror. And
once we see ourselves clearly, we can finally choose differently.
What do you hope audiences in Nova Scotia take away from the documentary?
Permission. Permission to feel, to pause, to ask for help—and to understand that strength
can look like softness.
How does this film connect to your broader body of work?
All my films ask the same question: what happens when we finally look into and tell the
truth about ourselves? About our realities?
What excites you about your upcoming documentary on Dr. Mayann Francis?
Dr. Francis’ life represents dignity under pressure—leadership rooted in grace, restraint,
and moral clarity. Telling her story feels like honouring both history and possibility.