The Song and the Sorrow

The Song and the Sorrow


                                The Song and the Sorrow
| 42 min
Free
streaming

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Musician Catherine MacLellan—the daughter of Canadian singer/songwriting legend Gene MacLellan—grew up surrounded by her father’s music. He died by suicide when she was 14. Two decades after his loss, Catherine is finally ready to confront the hurtful mystery of her absent parent and embrace his musical legacy.

The Song and the Sorrow follows Catherine as she journeys to understand her father and face her own struggles with mental illness. Through archival footage and intimate interviews with friends, family members, and musicians who knew and played with Gene—including Anne Murray, Lennie Gallant, and the late Ron Hynes—the film reveals a troubled and loving man who was never at ease with fame or money.

Catherine is determined to lift the oppressive burden of silence that accompanies the stigma of mental illness and hopes that others can take strength and solace from her story.

This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised

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The Song and the Sorrow, Millefiore Clarkes, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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Credits
  • participant
    Catherine MacLellan
    Judith MacLellan
    Isabel MacLellan
    Philip MacLellan
    Lennie Gallant
    Scott Parsons
    Bob Mersereau
    Tanya Davis
    Ron Hynes
    Marty Reno
    Eric MacEwen
    Anne Murray
  • writer
    Millefiore Clarkes
  • director
    Millefiore Clarkes
  • director of photography
    Kyle Simpson
  • editor
    Millefiore Clarkes
  • sound design
    Simon White
  • music
    Devon Ross
  • producer
    Paul McNeill
    Rohan Fernando
  • story editor
    Andrew MacCormack
  • additional photography
    Millefiore Clarkes
    Curry Leamen
    Dane Cutcliffe
  • additional sound
    Mike Filippov
    Dan Caseley
    Curtis MacNevin
  • narrator
    Catherine MacLellan
  • transcription
    Lisa Clarke
  • archival clearances
    Sylvia Mezei
  • music clearances
    Sylvia Mezei
  • production supervisor
    Roz Power
  • technical coordinator
    Jean-François Laprise
    Daniel Lord
    Christopher MacIntosh
  • production coordinator
    Sarah Gignac
    Cheryl Murgatroyd
  • senior production coordinator
    Kelly Davis
  • program administrator
    Camila Blos
    Leslie Anne Poyntz
  • title design
    Jacques-Bertrand Simard
  • online editor
    Denis Pilon
  • on-line assistant
    Pierre Dupont
  • re-recording
    Serge Boivin
  • marketing manager
    Amanda Laukys
  • publicist
    Pat Dillon-Moore
  • legal counsel
    Peter Kallianiotis
  • executive producer
    Annette Clarke
  • executive director
    Michelle van Beusekom

  • metta

    Catherine, what a gem you and all others involved have created! I especially appreciate the emotional and mental health content which demonstrate your courage and honesty, and strength to reach out to inform and illuminate others. Well done! My words are inadequate in relaying to you the incredibly powerful impact your film made on me. My brother died recently at the age of 76, after 60 torturous years in the mental health system. Bless you for Sharing your heart and soul with us while creating this beautiful significant an memorable film.

    metta, 24 May 2020
  • onemon22

    I didn't even know about Gene Maclellan until now. This film made everything clear.

    onemon22, 13 May 2020
  • None

    Absolutely beautiful. I had a tear in my eye the whole time but my heart grew three sizes.

    None, 4 May 2020
  • None

    We've been waiting, this is such a great, moving, beautiful documentary, when will it be here? Please, hurry! So many want to see it!

    None, 9 May 2019
  • Jgkeefe

    Patiently waiting... waiting... waiting

    Jgkeefe, 16 Mar 2019
  • None

    Is it possible to watch this documentary?

    None, 11 Oct 2018

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