Jasmin Gordon’s poignant and impeccably crafted feature film debut rattles our perceptions of motherhood and moral integrity with its intimate and complex portrait of a sort of woman who is rarely depicted.
Living in an idyllic town in the stunning Valais region of Switzerland — known for its proximity to the Matterhorn, Alpine resorts, and upper Rhône river valley vineyards — 40-year-old Jule (Ophélia Kolb) is a single mother dreaming of a stable existence for her young family. Her children — 10-year-old Claire, eight-year-old Loïc, and six-year-old Sami — have learned to take care of one another, and, while the whereabouts of their gregarious mother are sometimes a mystery, the siblings know that she always returns to their home with a smile and a fantastic explanation.
Even countries renowned for their riches do not always share their wealth, and, at the whims of the social welfare system, Jule’s struggles to make ends meet appear futile in the face of seemingly unwritten rules and expectations. While in recovery Jule is determined to keep her chin up, employing creative ways to maintain appearances. For her, overcoming adversity may mean going through the motions of thriving — all the while weaving an alternate and likely unattainable — reality.
Jasmin Gordon’s poignant debut feature rattles our perceptions of motherhood and moral integrity with its intimate and complex portrait of a sort of woman who is rarely depicted. Further, in exploring the fragility of individual freedom in the face of rigid societal conventions, Gordon highlights the socioeconomic climate of the working poor — who, though often hidden, are present in every society — and invites the viewer to set aside judgements and step into someone else’s shoes.
DOROTA LECH
Screenings
Scotiabank 6
Scotiabank 9
TIFF Lightbox 3