Private Project

Mémère

Mémère follows the story of a devoted grandson’s fluke opportunity to take his Grandmother on a trip down memory lane.

  • Rachel Beaulieu
    Director
    Crush, Red River Roots, Hunger, Songs in the Key of Cree
  • Rachel Beaulieu
    Writer
    Crush, Red River Roots, Hunger, Songs in the Key of Cree
  • Rachel Beaulieu
    Producer
    Red River Roots, Hunger, Songs in the Key of Cree
  • Jacqueline Lauzon
    Key Cast
    "Marie"
  • Alexander McLellan
    Key Cast
    "Joey"
  • Charlene Moore
    Key Cast
    "Rosie"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    27,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Gimli International Film Festival
    Gilmi
    Canada
    July 29, 2023
    World Premiere
Director Biography - Rachel Beaulieu

Rachel Beaulieu is an Anishinaabekwe from Sandy Bay First Nation in southern Manitoba. She graduated in 2010 from Assiniboine Community College with a Media Production diploma, winning two awards for her recognized talent.

Rachel has focused her creative energy on learning storytelling through post-production for film and television content. Rachel’s professional experience ranges from commercial/brand, promotion, narrative, documentary, broadcast, and educational. Her work is influenced by her unique perspective as a First Nations woman and aims to make space for creators with a diverse vision.

She worked on short biographies and documentary films for the National Screen Institute, National Film Board of Canada, and produced documentaries for her own company, Can Dream Productions. She has had her work on CBC, APTN, SHAW TV, Bell MTS, as well as in international film festivals such as American Indian Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, LA Skins Fest, and the Gimli Film Festival.

Rachel holds membership to DOC Manitoba, Winnipeg Film Group, Indigenous Filmmakers’ Association, and is alumni to the National Screen Institute and Women in the Director’s Chair.

Rachel currently works at the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre as the Audio/Video Producer. She creates original content for cultural and educational purposes; the majority is shared online as viral videos.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Mémère is a 10 minute short film that was inspired from a personal experience. I knew someone like Mémère, and I would visit her often. Me and my partner would visit her in a care home. It was unusual for me as a First Nations person to know anyone in a care home. I want to make a short piece inspired by the good times I had with her.

In this film, Joey and his girlfriend Roseanne are able to give his grandmother Marie more than just a visit. Joey’s parents were the only ones that were allowed to take her out for the day. Marie always mistakes her grandson for her son Louis as she suffers memory issues. Like other days Marie would ask to go for a ride. Joey decides to ask again. As he’s talking to the new nurse, Marie calls out to “Louis” to let him know she’s ready to go for a ride. With that little misunderstanding, Marie, Joey and Roseanne are able to spend the day together. Joey feels like he sees his grandmother again on their drive and as they share a picnic near Mémère’s old house. As they leave her at the end of the night, it’s apparent that Marie had a good day physically and mentally as she remembers Joey’s name.

Capturing their dynamic on screen from Joey’s helplessness, to the freeing feeling of Marie on her car ride to the sad realization that she also needs to be in that care home will be a feat that I’ve been working towards in my career. I want to inspire people with this film and bring out the beauty of their situation.