Andrew Waterman
The Telegram
Anyone who has seen the film “Little Orphans” has marvelled at how believable the actors are as sisters says St. John’s based director Ruth Lawrence.
“When (Emily Bridger) wrote it, she had the three leads in mind — her, Rhiannon Morgan and Marthe Bernard,” Lawrence said. “They were perfect for it, so I thought why mess with a good thing? … it proved to be a massive advantage.”
It’s the first feature film Lawrence has directed, and it’s premiering Friday night at FIN Atlantic International Film Festival.
The film follows three sisters who were abandoned by their mother as young children.
“(They) come back for the younger sister’s wedding and secrets from the past get all mixed together to make a very complicated wedding day,” Lawrence said. “It leads to a lot of stress and conflict for these three women.”
Originally written for the stage, Bridger began adapting it for the screen about five years ago, she said. The partnership with Lawrence happened at the Women’s International Film Festival, with a simple tap on the shoulder.
“Four years ago, I really did just tap her on the shoulder and (asked her), do you want to direct something I’m writing?” Bridger said.
An abrupt, enthusiastic “yes” was the response from Lawrence, Bridger said.
Much like Lawrence’s directing, it was Bridger’s first feature-length film she has written. And choosing Lawrence to direct it was obvious for her.
“Purely it was instinct, I suppose,” she said. “Everyone who works with Ruth, works with her again and again.”
It’s a big ask, Bridger says, but the two were on the same page from the beginning.
“It was definitely the right person to ask, she does such amazing work,” Bridger said. “It wasn’t an easy job. I know it’s her first film, but on a budget like that it’s hard. You can’t really play around, you have to go in and get your day and she definitely did that.”
While there is some disappointment that their feature film is premiering during a global pandemic, the response online has been really great so far, Bridger says.
And there are benefits to online streaming.
“Otherwise, we would be in Halifax at the premiere, but now the film has further reach within Atlantic Canada,” Bridger said. “It’s nice that more people are able to see it.”
For Lawrence, who said she is currently attending the Toronto International Film Festival for the first time this year — albeit, virtually from her home — she shares a similar sentiment.
“Watching a film is a personal experience anyway,” Lawrence said. “So, even though the screen is smaller and I’m not sitting in a theatre seat with popcorn and my favourite drink, I actually can still appreciate it in that personal, individual way.”
Both Bridger and Lawrence say they are nervous, but excited about the premiere.
“It’s a thrill, but I do have some butterflies about how people are going to respond,” Lawrence said. “We think it’s a beautiful film, we love what we’ve done, we had so many limitations — micro-budget, weather — all kinds of limitations as we went along.”
However, Lawrence says limitations are part of what make art beautiful.
“If you’ve got the world at your feet, sometimes you don’t get the product you’re looking for,” she said. “Limitation gives me lots of freedom as a filmmaker.”
While the details are still being finalized, there will be a live screening of the feature film on Oct. 17 as part of the 31st St. John’s International Film Festival, something Bridger is grateful for.
“They’ve been a huge supporter,” Bridger said. “And it’s cool, because that’s where I proposed (the idea to direct the film) to Ruth.”
To watch “Little Orphans,” visit https://www.finfestival.ca/. The film will be available to stream for 24 hours starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18.
@AndrewLWaterman
