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Catalogue

A Mother Apart

Laurie Townshend
2024 | 1 h 29 min

Trailer


How do you raise a child when your own mother left you behind? Best known for the spoken word series Def Poetry Jam and her acclaimed solo show MotherStruck!, Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin embarks on a winding, emotionally raw journey to find the woman who disappeared from her life. From Brooklyn to Montreal, from Cologne to Kingston, she confronts buried pain, seeks elusive answers and ultimately embraces the radical act of forgiveness. Alongside her daughter, she redefines home, healing, and the very meaning of motherhood. A Mother Apart is a powerful testament to resilience, reconciliation, and the courage to break cycles of neglect.

Awards and distinctions

  • Peoples' Choice Award for Best Canadian Feature
    Out on Screen - Queer Film & Video Festival, Vancouver
    2024
  • Best Documentary Feature
    Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival, Toronto
    2024
  • Best First Feature
    Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival, Toronto
    2024
  • Best Canadian Feature
    Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival, Toronto
    2024