The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open was written by award-winning filmmakers Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn. The duo will also serve as co-directors for the film, marking the directorial debut for Tailfeathers.
Described as “intricately complex, while at the same time very simple”, the story of The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open is centred around two Indigenous women who have to navigate the aftermath of domestic abuse. It’s inspired by a transformative moment in writer/director Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers’ real life.
Tailfeathers, who took home the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series in 2017, will also star in the film, alongside the debut role for newcomer Violet Nelson.
Her co-writer/co-director Kathleen Hepburn is no stranger to the Canadian Screen Awards either. Her first feature film, Never Steady, Never Still, was recently nominated for 8 Canadian Screen Awards including Best Film and Best Director. That movie was also shot in British Columbia with Cinematographer Norm Li, who is the Director of Photography for The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open.
Alongside the production of The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, TELUS STORYHIVE will be providing support to launch an Indigenous Youth Mentorship program. Eleven Indigenous youth, ages 16–28, will work with key creatives through all departments to gain creative and practical filmmaking experience. Jade Baxter from the Nlaka’pamux Nation, whose short films that have played at festivals such as imagineNATIVE and RIDM, will be one of the youth mentees, working closely with both co-directors Tailfeathers and Hepburn to experience firsthand what it’s like to direct a feature film.
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open is a Canada-Norway co-production produced by Tyler Hagan of Experimental Forest Films, Lori Lozinski of Violator Films, and Alan R. Milligan of Tannhauser Gate and Film Farms. The feature is funded by Telefilm’s new Indigenous Screen Office, CBC’s Breaking Barriers Film Fund, and the Norwegian Film Institute.
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open will continue filming in Vancouver and area until April 9th.
