Join us for National Canadian Film Day on April 20th, 2022!
by Shelby Smith
National Film Day Canada (NFDC) is a massive one-day, coast-to-coast celebration of Canadian cinema, and screenings are held in every province and territory, in all kinds of venues. This year, the spotlight is on Celebrating Indigenous Voices, and we are delighted that this spotlight is being co-presented by imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, which is the world’s largest showcase for Indigenous-made screen content.
We are pleased to be screening Angelique’s Isle which is directed by Marie-Helene Cousineau and our friend Michelle Derosier. Michelle did the film work for our jingle dress exhibit, Shiibaashka’igan: Honouring the Sacred Jingle Dress, in 2019.
We hope that you will join us at the Douglas Family Art Centre on Wednesday, April 20th at 7pm to celebrate National Canadian Film Day!
Admission is free, donations are encouraged. As our capacity is limited, we recommend that you reserve your space ahead of time by contacting the Douglas Family Art Centre at (807) 467-2201 or emailing [email protected].
Below you will find a trailer for the film and the film synopsis.
FILM SYNOPSIS
In the midst of the 1845 mining boom on the shores of Lake Superior, newlywed Anishinaabe woman Angelique (Julia Jones) agrees to accompany her voyageur husband on a copper expedition. Left by the rest of the crew to guard a large discovery on a remote island, the couple must survive for weeks dealing with the harsh winter conditions and a quickly dwindling food supply.
As hunger sets in, Angelique – a devout Christian – struggles with her faith and must rely on the teachings she received from her grandmother in order to survive. A testament to the strength and resilience of Indigenous women, Angelique’s Isle also stars Tantoo Cardinal and Aden Young.
Based on the novel Angelique Abandoned by James R. Stevens and the true story of 17-year-old Angelique Mott, Angelique’s Isle is a beautiful and harrowing true tale of perseverance and survival.
Did you know?
The Burley Mine was a single shaft gold mine that was sunk into a very small rock outcrop on the lake. To stabilize the entrance the owners built cribbing around the rock. The small, perfectly square island remains there to this day.