Gail Maurice’s Indigenous drama Blood Lines, starring Outer Range (2022) actor Tamara Podemski (Reservation Dogs), Melanie Brayhas (Rosie), and Dana Solomon (Diggs Town), recently completed production in Ontario. Maurice is known for her acting roles in Trickster (2020) and Cardinal (2020) and now leads Blood Lines both in front of and behind the camera for her second feature film.
Maurice’s first feature, Rosie (2022), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was well-received. Her latest film, Blood Lines, continues her focus on Indigenous stories and culture. The plot centers around a mother named Leonore (Gail Maurice) returning to her small Métis community of Wapamon Sipi, disrupting the life of Beatrice (Dana Solomon), a strong-willed Métis storyteller and grocery store clerk. The film also stars Derica Lafrance (Wingman) as Chani, a mysterious figure who complicates Beatrice and Leonore’s relationship, while Podemski plays Pehmee, another key character.
Blood Lines features the use of Michif, the endangered language spoken by the Métis people. Maurice is one of just over 1,100 Michif speakers worldwide, and her inclusion of the language in the film underscores the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and identity.
Produced by Maurice alongside Paula Devonshire of Devonshire Productions Inc, and Rosie (2022) producer Jamie Manning, Blood Lines has garnered support from Canadian funding bodies, including Telefilm Canada and the Indigenous Screen Office. Elevation Pictures (Infinity Pool) is set to release the film theatrically in Canada, with Crave and CBC holding exclusive rights to air or stream the film.
Blood Lines is expected to draw attention for its authentic portrayal of Métis culture and its focus on language preservation, continuing Maurice’s work in highlighting Indigenous stories in Canadian cinema.
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