WHITEHORSE, Wyo. – Among the many films showing at the Available Light Film Festival are stories about police brutality, mental health, and one woman's experience of using quilting to cope with the loss of her brother to the RCMP. There is a documentary that sheds light on the issues surrounding this. response.
The film explores themes of mental health and police violence, and delves into the lives of Marilyn Farquhar and her brother Barry Shantz, who were shot and killed by RCMP outside their home in Lytton, British Columbia, in 2020. Much of the documentary follows Farquhar as she makes quilts to cope with her grief. She also works to hold police accountable.
“Quilting gave me a purpose to get out of bed. Quilting is my forte,” Farquhar said. “It's like you're speaking my language.”
Kairos is the name of the three quilts featured in the film that Farquhar created in response to Shantz's struggles with mental health, the grief she experienced after his death, and the path forward. It is. Kairos was also one of the names considered for the film's title.
The film's director, Ian Daffern, met Farquhar by chance and was drawn to make a film focused on her story. Initially, it was thought that Farquhar was not interested in her due to the sensitive nature of the story, but it did not take long for her to get in touch and tell Daffern of her interest.
“Barry was always a fighter. He was trying to shine a light on issues,” Farquhar said. “I had to take cues from him about what was the right thing to do, and I knew right away that someone needed to stand up for Barry.”
Daffern's background in journalism and investigative reporting has influenced his approach to sensitively sharing Farquhar's story through the film, and he believes her candor and emotional candor helped guide the film. .
“Marilyn's ability to share her raw, unfiltered emotions allowed the film to unfold organically,” Daffern said. “Her story was the basis for 'The Thread That Pulls the Bullet.'”
This documentary aims to allow viewers to explore the complexities of grief, resilience, and the pursuit of justice through Marilyn Farquhar's story, while also helping her overcome some of life's most profound challenges. It is also a testament to the power of art.
“Being able to explore these kinds of topical issues that are so important to society,” Daffern said. “It means a lot to me personally to be able to shine a light on this issue through this film.”
