Meadowlarks introduces us to four Indigenous siblings (Michael Greyeyes, Carmen Moore, Alex Rice and Michelle Thrush) who were separated as a result of the Sixties Scoop. Growing up in very different environments, this weekend is meant to be an opportunity for them to put a missing piece of their family puzzle back together. However, as tensions begin to mount and secrets are revealed, the four must look deep within themselves to process their grief and rebuilt their identities.
Directed by Tasha Hubbard, Meadowlarks is a fictionalized drama based on her 2017 documentary, Birth of a Family. Using their experiences as a template, Hubbard builds her narrative with a structure that feels almost like a play. Four characters with different histories in a single location is a natural tension builder and scenes within the cabin are palpable with emotion. Sharply written and executed, Meadowlarks becomes an incisive character study about the nature of family, especially when you feel like outsiders.
Yes, they may be family by blood. But their separation has led them down very different paths that threaten their ability to connect with each other—and their family history. As a result, every meal together or family excursion feels pregnant with unspoken tension. These are essentially strangers who expect to find a connection with one another that transcends relationship… but their personal struggles make this journey increasingly difficult.
It’s worth noting that this is one of those films where each performance feels like a standout role. Greyeyes, Thrush, Moore and Rice all absolutely deliver stellar work in their respective roles, creating characters who are confident in who they are and yet entirely unsure of who they’re supposed to be. Together, they offer remarkable work as they both support and challenge one another amidst these otherworldly circumstances. This is a story about resurrecting the past as they move into the future.
But that’s the complex joy that fuels Meadowlarks. Hubbard’s mixture of the exploration of suffering and celebration of culture creates a stunning tension that feels compelling in some moments, heartfelt in others and, at all times, authentic.
Meadowlarks is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
