A new film, Blood Lines, is set to illuminate Métis culture and identity on the silver screen, addressing a notable scarcity of such representation in Canadian cinema. Written and directed by Métis actor Gail Maurice, known for her role in the 2024 drama Aberdeen, the movie is set within an Ontario Métis community.
Bringing Métis Stories to Light
Maurice stars as Léonore, a mother striving to mend her relationship with her estranged daughter, Beatrice, played by Dana Solomon. Their reconciliation is complicated by Beatrice’s initial unforgiveness and her burgeoning connection with Chani (Derica Lafrance), a newcomer to the community seeking her birth family. Beatrice offers Chani her assistance, drawn to her presence.
During an interview following the film’s screening at the Toronto International Film Festival, Maurice emphasized her motivation for creating Blood Lines. “Not a lot of Canadians know anything about Métis culture or Métis identity, even to this day,” Maurice stated. “People ask: ‘What are you?’ and I’ll say I’m Métis. And they say, ‘Oh, what’s that?’”
Maurice’s ambition is to foster a broader understanding of Métis heritage. She highlighted that Blood Lines is reportedly the first Canadian feature film to prominently feature both Métis identity and language. “It’s also the first feature film in the history of Canada to have the Northern Michif language spoken in the film,” she added, referring to a dialect of Michif, a language blending Cree and French, prevalent in northern Saskatchewan.
Authenticity Through Casting
To ensure authenticity, Maurice sought out actors from her home village of Beauval in northern Saskatchewan, many of whom were new to acting. These individuals form a group of elders referred to as the “granny gang,” who appear periodically to facilitate the mother-daughter reconciliation.
“I needed authentic speakers and I wanted to portray everything as authentically as possible in this film,” Maurice explained. “All my themes in my films are family, identity, culture and chosen family. So this is a love story, not only to women, but also to my Métis identity.”
A Dancer’s Perspective
Dana Solomon, who portrays Beatrice, brings a unique background to the role. Of Anishinaabe and Guyanese heritage, Solomon grew up with exposure to Métis culture, which proved beneficial given Beatrice’s character is a competitive dancer. Solomon’s grandfather, Elmer Seymour, was a renowned Métis fiddler, providing a familiar connection to the cultural elements of the film.
Solomon, also a writer-director, premiered her short film Niimi at TIFF, which explored themes of healing through movement. Her classical ballet training, including studies at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, aided her in mastering the jigging sequence for Blood Lines. “I’m definitely more classically trained, but I think once you’re a dancer, and you practise and you see it enough, you can pick it up,” Solomon commented.
