Directed by renowned theatre artist and film director Marie Clements, Lay Down Your Heart is a touching tribute to Niall McNeil, a multi-talented artist in theatre and various other mediums, who happens to be a person living with Down Syndrome. From having grown up in Caravan Farm Theatre, and co-writing plays like King Arthur’s Night, McNeil has established himself as an integral part of the Vancouver theatre scene. We are introduced to the artist’s rich inner world and meet his ‘family members’—who may not be blood relations, but are surely heart relations. Very much a labour of love, this documentary features well-known figures and collaborators from the theatre and artistic community, all voicing praise and affection for McNeil. Shot mostly in front of an all-white backdrop with McNeil’s drawings animated on-screen, the film has a distinctly playful visual style. Colourful, full of joy, and possessing an imaginative spirit, Lay Down Your Heart is a heartwarming celebration of a local artist who has succeeded on his own terms.
Q&A Oct 6 & Oct 9
Media Partner
Canada
2022
English
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Second Ascent: An Ultra Trail Running Story + Gary Robbins Q&A
After losing its globally recognized ultra trail running race in Whistler, race director Gary Robbins and his tight-knit team scramble to build a new 100km event in Valemount, a small mountain village betting its future on outdoor recreation.
Ryan Oliver Plays John Coltrane + Chasing Trane Documentary
To celebrate the centenary of the great John Coltrane, we're hosting a live performance by saxophonist Ryan Oliver and his quartet, followed by a screening of the definitive documentary, Chasing Trane (99 min).
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.
Credits
Executive Producer
Shirley Vercruysse
Producer
Shirley Vercruysse
Screenwriter
Marie Clements, Niall McNeill
Cinematography
Mike McKinlay
Editor
Sarah Hedar
Production Design
James Boatman
Original Music
Wayne Lavallee
Director
Marie Clements
A writer, director, and producer whose career has spanned film, TV, radio, and live performance, Marie Clements is a Dene/Métis filmmaker and the founder of Marie Clements Media, a production company specializing in the creation and production of media works that ignite an Indigenous and intercultural reality. Her dramatic feature debut Red Snow (2019) received numerous awards including Most Popular Canadian Feature at VIFF and Best Director at the American Indian Film Festival. Clements’ 2017 documentary The Road Forward opened the DOXA Documentary Film Festival, received multiple awards, and has screened at more than 300 venues in North America.
Filmography: The Road Forward (2017); Red Snow (2019)