Quebec filmmaker Claude Demers was born under the name Paul Jarry and adopted as a baby in the 1960s. Now a father himself, with nearly half a dozen feature films to his name, Demers turns to his own creation story. Interweaving autobiographical documentary with art-house film, he traces his life back to its roots in the search for his elusive biological mother. Who was this independent and secretive woman? Shot in gorgeous black and white, with clear nods to French New Wave cinema, A Woman, My Mother poses questions through its poetic visuals as much as its musing voice-over. Demers skilfully reconstructs his mother’s history by blending archival footage with re-enactments and fiction with documentary. What emerges is a unique and touching exploration of the meaning of family, memory and maternal love. Aisha Jamal
This film includes a pre-recorded Q&A.
Co-presented with Cinéfranco
Canadian Spectrum program sponsored by
MEDIA COVERAGE