She Keeps Me
The strained relationship between two sisters reaches a dangerous climax in this exploration of family ties, mental illness, and self sacrifice.
Interview with Writer/Director Erica Orofino
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
Thank you! I made this film because the story was something I had churning around inside me for a really long time. Like, years. I am someone who has stuggled with mental illness, and I also have family and people very close to me who struggle with it. I wanted to tell a story that shows both sides -- the experience of being a caretaker but also the person struggling, and how each of those roles have their own unique tensions. I wanted to make a film that asks a question and there is no right or wrong answer.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To better understand mental illness or better understand what it's like to relate to someone that's struggling. To see beyond someone's actions and into their humanity. Our film also depicts a very real, relatable sibling dynamic. We think She Keeps Me is a movie that connects people.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
She Keeps Me is a film that tackles quite a few themes. I think a big one is how a family functions (often dysfunctionally) when we'd rather turn a blind eye to what's really going on. We see Alessandra and Lena's mother, Maria, a conservative Italian woman, try to justify her daughter's behavior by saying it's "just the way she is" and dismisses Alessandra's plea to get her sister the mental and emotional support she truly needs.
We also see the different ways mental illness is perceived. There's a moment in the film where one of Alessandra's friends says "at least I don't need a pill to function every day," and refers to a woman having a psychotic break as "a demon." It's super dehumanizing language and minimizes the struggles one goes through when experiencing these things that often feel so out of our control.
We also explore the universal feeling of responsibility for someone you love. There's a huge theme of codependence in this film. Alessandra and Lena really take on the other's emotions, and each are severely affected by the other's choices, to an unhealthy degree. I think this is very common in close relationships, whether between a parent and a child, friendships, but also romantic partnerships. At a certain point, you find yourself abandoning self in an effort to preserve the other person's mental wellness. But in the end, who are you really helping? And is there ever a time that self-abandonment is acceptable or a positive thing? There are a lot of questions this film forces you to ask yourself.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The main thing we tried to keep in balance was making both main characters feel fully fleshed out, and that you don't only 'side' with one character. For instance, it was so important to us that Lena (the sister with bipolar) isn't hated throughout the film. Because she does do things that hurt other people. And it's easy to stick her into a box and say "that was wrong, so she's bad," but we wanted to make sure we could give the audience a taste for just how hard she struggles. I think this is why audience members are able to connect with her. The script evolved to reflect this. We had earlier drafts where we never show the full scene ouside, where Lena has a psychotic break and Alessandra takes her home. But that scene became the key to Lena's humanity in the film. We needed to make sure the audience ultimately had an understanding as to why she behaves the way she does.
The drowning scene is what evolved the most. We originally had written that all the friends in the pool take part in plunging Lena underwater, but that felt a bit gratuitious and not true to the story we wanted to tell. It was way more fitting that Alessandra does this alone, and that everyone witnessing this is just as taken aback by the action as Alessandra is. That moment in the film actually kept evolving up until the moment we shot it. Katarina (who plays Lena) and Mariel my producer both felt like this moment needed to be more intimate, between them, and so we shot it that way and the film is so much stronger for that.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
We've received really positive feedback so far. We won Best Canadian Film at the Pendance Film Festival in Toronto. We've had people reaching out to us and letting us know the film has resonated with them, maybe they've gone through something similar with a sibling or a parent, had to take on that caretaker role, or they were the one relying on a family member. It's been a really gratifying and humbling experience. The best thing you can hear as a filmmaker is that your work is connecting with other people, validating people's experiences. When someone comes up to me and says they see themselves in Lena or Alessandra, I automatically feel more connected to humanity. It's super grounding and inspiring and exciting.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I think the most challenging piece of feedback is how audience members feel about the ending. Alessandra makes a choice, and some people don't agree or understand her choice. I don't think you can please everyone, and that's part of the beauty of making a film with a definitive ending as opposed to leaving it open-ended or open to interpretation. I love hearing people's feelings about what the characters choose to do, and I think the film also challenges you as an audience member to think about why you feel these ways.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
We just want people to watch our film! The more exposure, the better. We're independent filmmakers and we would love to get the word out.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Ideally we'd get journalists and film festival directors' attention. We'd love to meet with you and chat with you!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
We hope our film sparks a conversation about mental illness, the stigmatization, the different perceptions of this especially in a European family. We want to evoke empathy for people struggling, but also those who are supporting loved ones.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
If you were Alessandra, what would you do? Would you stay home to take care of your sister, or would you leave to pursue your dreams? Why would you choose this? Does family come before all else? Should people be held accountable for their behavior if we know that behavior comes from illness? At what point is it excusable (if ever) to abandon self in support of a loved one?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I (writer/director) have two films in post-production at the moment. I'm also developing another short drama about a little girl who forms a relationship with an anonymous internet friend in a chat room. And lastly I'm working on a feature script about the lives of a group of preteen girls living in the Canadian suburbs in the 90s.
Interview: April 2022
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
She Keeps Me
Length:
0:16
Writer/Director
ERICA OROFINO is an award-winning, queer writer/director based in Toronto, ON. Her work focuses on the female perspective, sexuality, complex familial relationships and mental illness. Erica’s latest dramatic short She Keeps Me won Best Canadian Short (2022) at the Pendance film festival in Toronto. It is currently making the rounds in the festival circuit, and is currently screening at the Atlanta Film Festival. As a filmmaker Erica is passionate about stories by underrepresented voices, and her work is fueled by the desire to bring people together to make social change.
Producer
MARIEL SHARP is a producer based in Montréal, QC. Mariel has produced 8 critically acclaimed short films as well as Bleed With Me, a psychological thriller feature now available on SHUDDER. Mariel's work has been supported by the Telefilm Talent to Watch program, the SODEC Jeunes Createurs Development program, WIFTV's Genre Accelerator program, and the Diversity of Voices initiative at the BANFF World Media Festival. As a producer, Mariel believes in the unique potential of cinema as a vehicle for social change.
Key cast:
Rachel Dagenais (Alessandra), Katarina Keca (Lena), Katie Messina (Maria), Julia DeMola (Simone), Andrew Pimento (Seb), Natalie Liconti (Isa)
Looking for:
film festival directors, distributors, journalists, buyers
https://twitter.com/ericaorofino
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/eriorofino/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/eriorofino/
More info:
Where can I watch it?
Atlanta Film Festival / Atlanta Georgia - April 22 - May 1 2022
Pendance Film Festival / Toronto, Ontario - June 2022 (exacts dates TBD)
Oakville Film Festival / Oakville, Ontario - June 22-28th, 2022