Discovering an unusual, potentially invasive insect inside a peach, fruit packer Robin (Grace Glowicki) immediately reports it. When the powers that be refuse to take action, she goes public with her concerns and precipitates a widescale shutdown that threatens to devastate her Okanagan town. Branded a pariah and effectively exiled with her younger sister Laney (Alexandra Roberts), Robin must also deal with the complications of terminating an unwanted pregnancy. Meanwhile, the townsfolk are about to learn that nature won’t be denied.
Parallels and allegories abound as Sophie Jarvis’ psychological drama delves into the ills of this seemingly postcard-perfect community. Boasting a layered narrative and impeccable performances, Until Branches Bend is also suffused with the sensorial elements of an Okanagan summer: from the dusty cinematography to a sweltering atmosphere that leaves everyone on edge. What starts out as an intimate whistleblowing drama ultimately grows apocalyptic in scale, all while preserving the human story at its core.
Q&A Oct 2 & Oct 7
Presented by
Media Partner
Community Partner
Grace Glowicki, Alexandra Roberts, Quelemia Sparrow, Lochlyn Munro, Antoine DesRochers
Canada/Switzerland
2022
English
At Vancouver Playhouse
At The Rio
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check Out What's Playing at the VIFF Centre
La Bola Negra
A big, old-school historical melodrama gets a thrillingly modern, queer makeover from Spanish duo Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, who artfully juggle three gay protagonists across stories set in 1932, 1937, and 2017. Winner: Best Director, Cannes. Screening on 35mm.
The History of Concrete
After attending a workshop on pitching saccharine Hallmark movies, John Wilson tries to apply all the same best practices to his documentary about concrete. Frequently absurd and endlessly entertaining detours, asides, and digressions ensue.
The Mad Dog of Europe
The story of an unmade screenplay from the writer of Citizen Kane. In 1932, Herman Mankiewicz wrote a film that foretold the persecution of the Jews and the war in Europe. But Hollywood wouldn't take the risk and The Mad Dog of Europe was never made.
The Mortal Storm
In this explicitly anti-Nazi melodrama directed by Frank Borzage (Three Comrades) a year before the US entered the war, Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart fall in love as their friends and family fall prey to the rise of Hitler's Nazi party in Germany.
NAZA
NAZA is a codeword euphemistically used by Israeli intelligence to indicate the number of civilians it expects will be killed in an airstrike. This chilling documentary exposes the policy and process of state-sanctioned mass killings.
Three Comrades
Scripted by F Scott Fitzgerald, Three Comrades (1938) was the first US studio film to chronicle the rise of European fascism in the 30s. Three German veterans open up a repair shop and try to regain a normal life, but political extremists have other ideas.
Credits
Producer
Tyler Hagan, Sara Blake, Magali Gillon-Krizaj, Michela Pini, Olga Lamontanara
Screenwriter
Sophie Jarvis
Cinematography
Jeremy Cox
Editor
Kane Stewart
Production Design
Charlie Hannah
Original Music
Kieran Jarvis
Director
Sophie Jarvis
Sophie Jarvis’ first job in film was reading fan mail for The L Word. Later, she studied at Simon Fraser University and her short film, The Worst Day Ever (2012), had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Jarvis now works as a director, while living a double life as a production designer on a wide range of projects. Lately, she is immersed in the world of stop motion animation with the upcoming short film Zeb’s Spider, produced by the National Film Board of Canada.