Screenwriter/director Marie Clements says every Indigenous person who worked on her residential school drama BԪַBones of CrowsBԪַ has their own family story of residential school and that brought deeper meaning to each dayBԪַs shoot.
The historical saga debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival over the weekend, and is set to open the Vancouver International Film Festival on Sept. 29.
It recounts decades of systemic abuse against Indigenous Peoples as seen through the eyes of a Cree woman who survives residential school, is sent to war, and is haunted by painful memories until she begins to confront her abusers.
The Vancouver-born Dene/Métis filmmaker Clements says she knows itBԪַs been difficult for many Canadians to confront the painful history of Indigenous Peoples, and she hopes her sweeping drama can help. For Indigenous audiences, she hopes it offers BԪַsome reliefBԪַ to see their story told.
The largely Indigenous cast is led by Grace Dove and includes Graham Greene, Lorne Cardinal and a cameo by veteran documentary maker Alanis Obomsawin.
BԪַBones of CrowsBԪַ screens at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on Thursday. The Toronto International Film Festival wraps Sunday.
BԪַEvery single Indigenous person that worked on this film BԪַ crew or performer BԪַ has their own story, their own family story of residential school,BԪַ Clements said during a round of media interviews.
BԪַSo that kind of gives it a deeper meaning when we come to set and know this is what weBԪַre doing today. And weBԪַre going to go get it. Not just for ourselves, because weBԪַre driven that way anyway as artists, but for our families and for the truth.BԪַ
Clements says itBԪַs important to examine things that are unpleasant, discuss them and address them.
BԪַI think, strangely in the world, thereBԪַs still people that donBԪַt know about residential schools, donBԪַt know that it was a government policy, and that it was, you know, 150 years in the making,BԪַ says Clements.
BԪַWeBԪַre still trying to get to the truth. And I think that takes a long time in this country for people to understand what that means.BԪַ
BԪַCassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press