About

An expansive documentary, Geographies of Solitude captures the natural landscape of Sable Island – a small sand island off the coast of Canada – and the custodian of the island Zoe Lucas. Lucas, who intended to visit the island for a quick trip with a scientific unit in 1971, was struck by Sable’s natural beauty and stayed to catalogue its animal inhabitants. Not only does Lucas catalogue the natural world of sable island from beetles to the horses that run on the dunes, she collects the debris on the beach. Each human-made item has a story of its use, origin and ecological impact. Director Jacqueline’s Mill’s cinematography and soundscape is revelatory, delighting in the many small and wondrous images from the island: the furry softness of a horse’s muzzle at twilight, the murmured rustle of grass as the wind whirls across the dunes, through to the curious gaze of a group of seals popping their heads above water. Geographies of Solitude is a profoundly beautiful film that ultimately leads the narrative on an exploration of the preciousness and interconnectedness of life and its cycles.

Ages 15+ | Mild themes. Note: images of decomposing animals as part of scientific investigation of the island wildlife.