★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In a world where low-budget, “indie” films have become an incredibly oversaturated market devoid of quality (looking at you, Netflix rom-com section), The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open is a breath of fresh air. Unfolding in real time, the story begins with a chance encounter between two strangers and ends with the heartbreaking message that some pain runs too deep and strong to be healed solely through compassion.
We first saw this film during its 2019 VIFF run and we were completely in awe at how well executed and bittersweet the film was. Everything, from the story to the stunning visuals, was flawless. The film represented multiple communities whose stories often go untold, ignored, or recounted by the wrong people, making The Body Remembers and its profound impact all the more unmeasurable.
Image via TIFF.net
Subtle films that focus on small moments of character growth are challenge to make and watch, particularly when said characters don’t get the happy ending audiences have grown to expect in modern cinema. Executing these stories requires a lot of skill from the writer, director, and cast because realistic characters are the primary key to success. Luckily for The Body Remembers, the story was in good hands. Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn created well-written, believable characters that were brought to life by the talented Violent Nelson (Rosie) and Tailfeathers herself (Áila). Rosie and Áila proved that in order to create the ever elusive “strong female character” that Hollywood has sought for so long, the necessary ingredient is realism. These characters were not strong because of what they endured or the choices they made but rather because they felt honest and genuine. Rosie’s ending may seem unsatisfying upon first watch but the rawness of her experience made the story’s conclusion believable, a far more powerful ending than the typical happily-ever-after. This type of unpredictable and realistic storytelling subverts expectations, leaving viewers with feelings of sadness and pain that beget discussion long after the film has finished.
Image via Film Threat
No review of this extraordinary movie would be complete without commenting on the visual accomplishments. The single-take film is complicated enough to achieve digitally; the choice to then use 16mm shows the team behind The Body Remembers wanted to create something that challenged everyone who participated in both the making and viewing of this masterpiece.
Every year when the Oscars roll around and unsurprisingly no women are nominated for the Best Director award, comments inevitably pop up stating that women need to make better films if they want to be acknowledged for the highest praise. Not that you had to look very hard to find these stories in the past, but to everyone asking what women can do: here it is.
The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open is available for streaming on CBC Gem (Canada) and Netflix (USA).