Immersion into the rich ecosystem of Sable Island, guided by naturalist and environmentalist Zoe Lucas who has lived over 40 years on this remote sliver of land in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Shot on 16mm and created using a scope of innovative eco-friendly filmmaking techniques, this feature-length experimental documentary is a playful and reverent collaboration with the natural world. Zoe leads us among wild horses, seals and bugs, through peaks, valleys, roots, sands, weathers, seasons and stars. The intangible is evoked with hidden sounds and vanishing light. Much like a field book, the film tracks its protagonist’s labor to collect, clean and document marine litter that persistently washes up on the island shores.
Press
Beautifully shot and constructed, Geographies of Solitude is a truly unique film… A visual and aural treat in which every shot has been created to maximize its impact.” Marc Glassman for POV Magazine
“Proves the magical power of cinema” Jeonju IFF
“Deliriously gorgeous.” AFI
“Proves to be a triumph in its entirety.” C7nema
“Arresting visual and aural storytelling.” Jeonju IFF
“Beauty lives in death. Suffering is born from life. Everything is connected.” The Film Stage
“Turns an account of a noble, steadfast, single-minded pursuit, into art.”
“Life-affirming in representing the cyclicity of life.” Movie Maker
Awards
Berlin International Film Festival, Germany, Winner of Caligari Film Award, C.I.C.A.E. Award (Forum) and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – 2022
Mar del Plata International Film Festival, Argentina, Winner of Alter States Competition Best Film and MUBI Award to the Best Film – 2022
Jeonju International Film Festival, South Korea, Winner of Grand Prize (International) – 2022
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Canada, Winner of The Earl A. Glick Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award and Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award – 2022
Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada, Winner of Best Canadian Documentary – 2022
Montreal International Documentary Festival, Canada, Winner of Student Jury Award – 2022
Director's Biography
Jacquelyn Mills is a filmmaker based in Montréal. Her works are immersive and sensorial, often exploring an intimate and healing connection to the natural world. Her award-winning documentary In the Waves (2017) premiered at Visions du Réel. Her most recent work Geographies of Solitude premiered at the Berlinale Forum winning three awards, and has since garnered 19 awards including Best Canadian Feature Film at Hot Docs and Grand Jury Prize at Jeonju. Jacquelyn is a Sundance Alumni and an IDA Documentary Award nominee. She has also worked as editor, sound designer and cinematographer on many internationally acclaimed films.