The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open is a quiet, shining gem of a movie that thrives on the performances of the two female leads.

Director-writer-lead Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers is fantastic here as Aila, a young woman who encounters Indigenous Rosie crying and barefoot on a city street.

After being abused by her boyfriend, Aila takes Rosie in and tries to help her sort out what to do post-assault. Co-directed by Kathleen Hepburn, this is a masterwork.

The strong interplay between Tailfeathers and Nelson — a revelation here — lifts this film into a stratosphere all its own. It’s a strong, intelligent dramatic piece about First Nations culture and the trauma of abuse.

It’s one of my favourites of the festival, and it’ll grip you hard and not let go.

4.5/5 Stars