The northern B.C. filmed movie, Monkey Beach, starring Prince George-raised actor Grace Dove, is set to open at Famous Players this week.
The movie is an adaptation of the 2000 book by Haisla author Eden Robinson, and former writer-in-residence at UNBC.
Filmed around Kitimat, Monkey Beach melds Haisla culture, spirituality and supernatural forces as the main character, Lisa, reconnects with her community and comes to terms with a special gift.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, actor Grace Dove said she relates to her character when it comes to leaving home and struggling to navigate identity while adapting to life in the city.
"I know that in my real life," said Dove, who is Secwepemc from B.C.'s southern interior but grew up in Prince George.
"I need to always go home a couple times a year and feel the ground under my feet and reconnect to where I'm from."
Dove, who also starred in "The Revenant" with Leonardo DiCaprio, said she's always had her sights set on a role like Lisa.
She said Monkey Beach "shows young people that even in a modern world it's safe and it's okay to be able to connect to our spiritual ways, because that's what's made us resilient and helped us survive generations of violence."
Lisa has been seeing strange characters since childhood — the ghosts of loved ones who died, as well as b'gwus, or sasquatch — that lend her what director Loretta Todd calls "double vision."
It's like stepping through time, said Todd, who describes the style of the film as "magical realism."
Lisa's family struggles to accept her gift, especially when she raises alarms about her brother.
As she sets out in search of answers, Lisa confronts ominous, otherworldly forces while embracing guidance from the spirits of relatives and ancestors and reckoning with her own identity.
Haisla people have a long cultural history at Monkey Beach, located about 2.5 hours from Kitimat by boat, including stories of b'gwus coming down from the mountains to visit the coast, noted Todd, who is Cree and Metis and resides in B.C. on Coast Salish territory.
The film was scored by Jesse Zubot, a frequent collaborator and producer for throat singer Tanya Tagaq, and features music from Snotty Nose Rez Kids, a hip hop duo from Kitimat.
It also premiered as the opening film at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
You can see Monkey Beach at Famous Players Prince George at starting Friday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. with further showtimes following.
Tickets and showtimes are available here.
- with files from The Canadian Press
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