Montreal-based Indigenous Director’s film to be featured at TIFF

“We were jumping, screaming, crying, everything,” said writer-director-actor-producer Gail Maurice.

The queer, Indigenous, bilingual and Montreal-based film “ROSIE” has been chosen to be featured at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The film written, produced and directed by Métis filmmaker Gail Maurice tells the story of an orphaned 6-year-old Indigenous girl taken in by her chosen family in Montreal in the 1980s.

The movie explores the themes of identity, family, love and hardships through a Queer Indigenous lens.

“I hope that there’s going to be some tears, that people will be moved and touched. There’s also some really funny moments and at the end of the day, it’s really about hope,” said actress and co-producer Mélanie Bray, who plays the character of “Fred” in the movie.

“I wanted to make a film that’s bilingual so that I could celebrate and be able to talk about being Métis in Canada,” said Maurice.

“And also in Cree, there is no gender. There’s no he or she. I’m an Indigenous woman and I wrote this story from an Indigenous point of view and perspective and because of that, there’s no gender.”

The film doesn’t stray away from hard-hitting storylines and nods to the reality of growing up Indigenous in Canada.

“The Sixties Scoop and different [elements that are integrated] are very subtle. But I do hope that people still leave curious and wanting to know more,” said Bray.

“Certain people in society are seen as like disposable or or or throwaways or not worthy of things,” said Maurice.

“There’s a street person in ‘ROSIE’, ‘Jigger’, and he’s one of my favourite characters because he’s so grounded and some of the most beautiful people I know are street people because they’re brilliant, they’re kind. I think that’s what I also want people to take away is no matter who people are in the world, we’re all human beings and we all deserve the love and respect.”

“[Mélanie] is very much like ‘Fred’, even though she may not think it, her spirit is kickass. And that’s who Fred is,” said Maurice.

“But I think Fred is just a lot more bold and she just truly doesn’t give a crap about what anyone thinks about her,” said Bray about her bilingual character.

“How can more movies be made by indigenous filmmakers or female filmmakers? Just open the doors. Open the doors. Hear us. Trust us. Give us money. We have our stories,” said Maurice.

The first TIFF screening will be on Friday, Sept. 9 at 6:15 p.m. at Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.