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This House film image, director Miryam Charles

This House

Cette maison

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With its 16mm cinematography lending it an uncanny air, Miryam Charles’ haunting nonfiction work examines the mysterious circumstances surrounding her teenage cousin’s death, while speculating on the life that this young woman might’ve led had she survived. “My story is both tragic and hopeful,” incants cousin Tessa (brought to life by Schelby Jean-Baptiste). Through the graces of Charles’ direction, her tale is also equal measures puzzle and poetry. Transporting us between New England, Haiti, and Montreal, This House allows a speculative future incarnation of Tessa to commune with her bereaved mother (Florence Blain Mbaye) and retrace her family’s immigration odyssey.

“I refuse reality and try to understand it through art,” professes Charles in her director’s statement for her first feature-length work. While abstraction and experimental techniques are undeniably key to this enigmatic piece, there’s also a sense of anguish that serves as its emotional core. It’s a lyrical yet potent reminder of violence’s capacity to rupture reality and shake the foundations of family.

Silvestre Award for Best Feature Film, IndieLisboa 2022

 

 Q&A Oct 1 & Oct 5

 

Presented by

Media Partner

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Director
Cast

Schelby Jean-Baptiste, Florence Blain Mbaye, Eve Duranceau, Matthew Rankin, Yardly Kavanagh

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2022

Language

In French and Haitian Creole with English subtitles

Film Contact
Links
Content Warning

Self Harm

18+
75 min
Award Winners Documentary Experimental & Avant Garde Women Directors

Book Tickets

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Credits

Producer

Félix Dufour-Laperrière

Screenwriter

Miryam Charles

Cinematography

Isabelle Stachtchenko, Miryam Charles

Editor

Xi Feng

Production Design

Georges Michael FanfanAnnick Marion

Original Music

Romain Camiolo

Director

Miryam Charles headshot, This House director

Miryam Charles

Miryam Charles is a Haitian-born director, producer, and cinematographer living in Montreal. She has produced several short and feature films, and directed several short films. Her films have been presented at various festivals in Quebec and internationally. This House, her feature film combining documentary and fiction elements, had its world premiere at the Berlinale this winter and won the Silvestre Award at the IndieLisboa.

Filmography: Mosaic (2017)