THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN

Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, a member of the Kainai First Nation in Alberta, is a filmmaker in the fullest sense of the word, acting, writing, directing, and producing across various projects. Her feature debut THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN (trailer here), which she co-wrote and co-directed with Kathleen Hepburn, premiered at the 2019 Berlinale and was acquired at TIFF by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY. The film presents a complicated chance encounter between two indigenous women superficially divided by class. Áila (played by Tailfeathers) comes across the young and pregnant Rosie (Violet Nelson) just after Rosie has been physically assaulted by her boyfriend, and Áila attempts to usher the girl to safety. Mostly captured in one unbroken take, the movie intimately portrays an act of generosity and the conversations that follow as the women struggle to understand each other. Thankfully, this underseen gem is available to stream on Netflix. You can also look out for Tailfeathers’ upcoming documentary KÍMMAPIIYIPITSSINI: THE MEANING OF EMPATHY, an examination of the opioid crisis and its effects on her  community in Alberta, currently receiving praise on the festival circuit. For her perspective on this documentary and filmmaking in general, check out this recent interview in Filmmaker Magazine.

—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant