Private Project

The Kitchen Sink

A traditional Maritime image: three generations of P.E.I. women wash dishes after holiday dinners. Their after-dinner conversations become revealing when one of their own begins his transition.

  • Olivia King
    Director
  • Olivia King
    Writer
  • Christine DiGiosia
    Producer
  • Mary Colin Chisholm
    Key Cast
    "Grace"
  • Beth Amiro
    Key Cast
    "Tanya"
  • Phoebe Rex
    Key Cast
    "Maude"
    Kids Vs. Aliens
  • Jonathan Torrens
    Key Cast
    "Chris"
    Trailer Park Boys
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    comedy, drama, family, LGBTQIA+, Canadian, Maritime
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 10, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    22,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa 35
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Olivia King

Olivia King is a filmmaker and sound technician living, laughing, and loving in Mi’kma’ki. Their work is often influenced by their queer identity and home province, Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk).

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The Kitchen Sink is a love letter to my family, and more specifically, my cousin Chase and our grandmother, Margie. When my cousin came out as trans, I had an illuminating conversation with my grannie that played out very similarly to the second Christmas scene in the film.

I’ve always been interested in dynamics between women in families, especially through a queer lens. The things left unsaid, the unspoken solidarity, the labour and performance of a holiday dinner and the backstage conversations at the kitchen sink. The performance of gender and all of the things that it demands are second nature to the Prince Edward Island grandmother. Of course she can understand the fluidity and complexity of gender theory, she just might not have the language to express those ideas. Warts and all, I wrote a film that holds space for the ugly and the ignorant while still being rooted in love and compassion. It is not perfect, but it is honest.