Scene from The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open | Image source: TIFF.net
The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open is a deep contemplative film that reflects on the many layers of privilege that exist within Indigenous communities. The film debuted at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) earlier this year and will be making it’s theatrical debut in November 2019.
Despite being marginalized by colonialism and capitalism some Indigenous communities and/or people fare better within the mainstream system than others. It’s a complex topic that explores class, light-skinned privilege, disenfranchisement and relationships between Indigenous women.
The film starts out tense and chaotic, and we get glimpses into a window of each woman’s life Aili (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers), a middle class Indigenous woman meets Rosie (Violet Nelson), a pregnant Indigenous woman on the streets who is shoeless and fleeing from an abusive situation. Aili is observant until she has deal with the end results of her encounter with Rosie. Rosie is quiet and hardened; and Aili is empathetic to her situation. Nelson has strong onscreen presence and eminently conveys Rosie; a complex, resilient character with a strong wit and humour who is coming to terms with her situation.
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers is from the Kainai First Nation and Sámi Nation in Norway.
