The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open

Movie
Original title	The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open
Country of production	Canada , Norway
original language	English
Publishing year	2019
length	105 minutes
Rod
Director	Kathleen Hepburn , ; Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
script	Kathleen Hepburn, ; Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
production	Tyler Hagan , ; Lori Lozinski , ; Alan R. Milligan
camera	Norm Li
cut	Christian Siebenherz
occupation
	Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers: Áila; Barbara Eve Harris : Sophie; Violet Nelson : Rosie; Charlie Hannah : Cat; Jay Cardinal : Cory; Aidan Dee : Jessa; Anthony Bolognese : Jonah; James Angus Cowan : Cole; Sonny Surowiec; Tony Massil;

The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open is a film drama by Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers , which premiered on February 9, 2019 as part of the Berlin International Film Festival .

action

When Áila meets a young indigenous woman who is crying barefoot in the rain on a busy street, she quickly realizes that she has just escaped a violent attack by her boyfriend. Áila decides to take Rosie, who is from the same neighborhood in Vancouver as she, home with her. Áila lives in a tastefully furnished apartment, Rosie and her boyfriend share an apartment with his mother. In addition to all of this, she expects a child from him.

production

Directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn . Tailfeathers, who can also be seen in the leading role of Áila, studied First Nations and Indigenous Studies at the University of British Columbia and is an alumna of the Berlinale Talents. The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open , the title of the film, is also the title of an essay by the indigenous poet Billy-Ray Belcourt and, according to the directors, fits perfectly with their work because it symbolizes that indigenous women are part of the legacy of colonialism carry their body, but also the strength of their ancestors. The filmmakers deliberately worked with numerous young indigenous women. The message of her film and her way of working is described by Alva Gehrmann from the Goethe-Institut Norway as follows: "Seek help together and let us protect each other as best we can."

The film was shown for the first time on February 9, 2019 as part of the Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation 14plus section. In September 2019 it was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival . A screening at the AFI Film Festival is planned for November 2019 .

reception

Reviews

The film has so far won over 95 percent of all Rotten Tomatoes critics and achieved an average rating of 7.8 out of a possible 10 points.

Alva Gehrmann from the Goethe-Institut Norway writes that the Norwegian-Canadian film fits into the era of #metoo. Even if speechlessness and silence in films can be excruciating, the intimate narrative in this film draws you into the situation in such a way that you watch Rosie listening to music and at the same time wonder what you would do in her place: "Would I go back to go to the father of my child? And would I have taken her home instead of Áila's place? The two women meet at vulnerable moments in their lives, and Áila is also in a painful situation. "

Awards

Canadian Screen Awards 2020

Nomination for best feature film
Nomination for Best Director ( Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers )
Nomination for Best Original Screenplay (Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers)
Nomination for Best Actress (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers)
Nomination for Best Actress ( Violet Nelson )
Nomination for the best camera ( Norm Li )