Private Project

The Hurt That Binds Us

This short documentary provides an intimate look into an Indigenous family's journey to come to terms with their intergenerational trauma due to the Indian residential schools. Seen through the eyes of three generations and bound together by the same hurts.

  • Victoria Anderson-Gardner
    Director
  • Victoria Anderson-Gardner
    Producer
  • Adrian Pop
    Producer
  • Gianfranc Pipitone
    Producer
  • Gianfranc Pipitone
    Cinematography
  • Maxim Karsh-LeClaire
    Editor
  • Philip Gardner
    Interviewee
  • Ken Gardner
    Interviewee
  • Bonnie Anderson
    Interviewee
  • Kyle Gardner
    Interviewee
  • Precious Anderson
    Interviewee
  • Matthew Knarr
    Post-Production Supervisor
  • Kathleen Edwards
    Sound Recordist
  • Shadora Chambers
    Sound Designer
  • Daniel Brackenbury
    Composer
  • Alex Tse
    Colourist
  • Valentin Bacalu
    Titles and Credits
  • Dale Anderson
    Transcribers
  • Saf Aly
    Transcribers
  • Vanessa Agnelli
    Transcribers
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Educational
  • Runtime:
    17 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 3, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    7,500 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
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Ryerson University Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    May 3, 2019
    Canadian Premiere
    Best Documentary, WIFT Woman in Film Award
  • Voices With Impact Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 27, 2019
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Towards Reconciliation Symposium
    Toronto
    Canada
    November 19, 2019
    Official Selection
  • North Bay Film Festival
    North Bay
    Canada
    November 15, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival
    Winnipeg
    Canada
    December 27, 2020
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Art With Impact
    Distributor
    Country: Canada
    Rights: Internet
Director Biography - Victoria Anderson-Gardner

Victoria Anderson-Gardner is an award winning Ojibwe filmmaker from Eagle Lake First Nation, Ontario. She is currently based out of Thunder Bay and Toronto where she recently completed her thesis film for a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree under the School of Image Arts at Ryerson University. Victoria is focused on creating Indigenous content, showcasing underrepresented communities and using her skills as a filmmaker to educate. With over 4 years of experience in the film industry, Victoria is a director and producer who has worked and assisted on a variety of productions which include The Hurt That Binds Us (Voices With Impact funded short documentary focused on Indigenous mental health, won best documentary at the Ryerson University Film Festival), Mni Wiconi: Mitakuyelo (imagineNATIVE and Netflix commissioned film), In Search of a Perfect World (CBC Docs POV hosted by Peter Mansbridge, credited as additional director), and The Inconvenient Indian (directed by Michelle Latimer, credited as production assistant). She currently sits as an Advisory Board member for Art With Impact where they jury for their monthly film competitions, and is a brand ambassador for the Indigenous led charity called Indspire.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

For the Indigenous peoples of Canada and their allies, The Hurt That Binds Us is a short documentary that aims to reveal the true effects of intergenerational trauma due to the Indian Residential Schools because The Hurt That Binds Us connects you to the real story told by real people. Our film is focused on one family, but the story of intergenerational trauma is one that impacts many others. While the story is focused, the implications of the Indian Residential school system are vast and our film is just a glimpse into one family's struggle to grow beyond their shared hurt.