ONE THOUSAND FLOWERS PRODUCTIONS
THE SONG AND THE SORROW
​42 mins. (2018)
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WATCH ON NFB
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WATCH ON PRIME​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Catherine MacLellan – the daughter of Canadian singer/songwriting legend Gene MacLellan – grew up surrounded by her father’s music. But He committed suicide when she was 14, and it took decades before she was able to play his songs.
The Song and The Sorrow follows Catherine as she tries to understand her father, come to terms with his legacy, and face her own struggles with mental illness. Through archival footage and candid interviews with friends, family members, and musicians who knew and played with Gene – including Anne Murray, Lennie Gallant, and the late Ron Hynes – the film reveals a troubled and loving man who was never at ease with fame or money.
It’s not easy being a musician with a famous musical parent. Losing that parent to suicide is devastating. As she seeks to celebrate her father while encouraging people to talk openly about mental illness, Catherine hopes others can take strength and solace from her story.
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DIRECTOR/WRITER/EDITOR:
MILLEFIORE CLARKES
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PRODUCERS:
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA
ROHAN FERNANDO & PAUL MCNEILL
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SOUND DESIGN:
SIMON WHITE
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SOUNDTRACK MUSIC:
DEVON ROSS
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MUSIC:
GENE MACLELLAN
CATHERINE MACLELLAN
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CINEMATOGRAPHERS:
KYLE SIMPSON
MILLEFIORE CLARKES
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SOUND RECORDIST:
ADAM GALLANT
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STORY CONSULTANT:
ANDREW MACCORMACK
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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER:
ANNETTE CLARKE
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SCREENINGS & AWARDS:
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Sept 15/18 - FIN - Atlantic International Film Festival (PREMIERE SCREENING / BEST SHORT ATLANTIC DOC)
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Sept 21/18 - Lunenburg Doc Fest (SPECIAL PRESENTATION / BEST ATLANTIC FILMMAKER)
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Oct 10/18 - Rendezvous with Maddness Festival (OPENING NIGHT SCREENING)
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Oct 12 & 16/18 - Charlottetown Film Festival (OPENING NIGHT SCREENING)
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Oct 19/18 - Indian River Festival
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Nov 4/18 - Guelph Film Festival (Shorts Series - Artistic Interventions)
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Nov 7/18 - Film Works/TIFF Film Circuit - Summerside Cineplex
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Nov 8 & 10/18 - Zonta Film Festival
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Nov 11/18 - Silverwave Film Festival (CLOSING NIGHT GALA / BEST CANADIAN DOC)
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Jan 17/19 - HotDocs Mental Health Film Series (OPENING FILM)
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Jan 27/19 - ReFrame Film Festival
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Feb 7/19 - Available Light Film Festival (AUDIENCE TOP TEN)
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Feb 15/19 - Folk Alliance International Festival
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March 3/19 - Salt Spring Film Festival
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April 25/28/19 - City Cinema
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May 4/19 - East Coast Music Awards
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May 5/19 - Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (BET MID-LENGTH INTERNATIONAL DOC)
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May 12/ 19 - Sunrise Film Festival
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May 22/19 - Lawyna Vanya
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May 2019 - Yorkton Film Festival
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June 12/19 - Festival of Small Halls
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July 12/19 - Atlin Arts and Music Festival
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Sept 26/19 - Deep Roots Festival
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PRESS:
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Catherine MacLellan on CBC's Q
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