As the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life a few years ago, R.T. Thorne found himself facing 香蕉视频直播渆xistential fears.香蕉视频直播�

With the food supply chain disrupted and people stockpiling toilet paper, the Calgary-born director started questioning whether the world he knew was ever as stable as it seemed.

香蕉视频直播淚f a sickness that we can香蕉视频直播檛 even control knocks us off our rocker like that, are we really that safe? Are we really that firm in what we know?香蕉视频直播� Thorne recalls wondering.

香蕉视频直播淪o it started to make me think, 香蕉视频直播楥an I provide for my kids if everything were to shut down? Can I grow food? Do I know how to do that? Can I protect them?香蕉视频直播�

Thorne says those uncertainties were key inspirations for his debut film 香蕉视频直播�40 Acres,香蕉视频直播� which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this week.

The post-apocalyptic thriller centres on Hailey Freeman, an ex-military matriarch played by Danielle Deadwyler who leads her family in a future ravaged by famine. Faced with the threat of a ruthless band of cannibals intent on overtaking their farm, she clashes with her son Emanuel, played by Toronto香蕉视频直播檚 Kataem O香蕉视频直播機onnor, on the best way to survive a crumbling world.

香蕉视频直播淎t its heart, it香蕉视频直播檚 a mother and son story,香蕉视频直播� says Thorne, who cut his teeth directing music videos for artists including Sean Paul and Keshia Chant茅 before creating 2020 sci-fi series 香蕉视频直播淯topia Falls香蕉视频直播� and helming 2022 period drama 香蕉视频直播淭he Porter,香蕉视频直播� both of which aired on CBC.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a thriller that香蕉视频直播檚 about two different ideologies of how to move forward in a family.香蕉视频直播�

While Hailey believes her family香蕉视频直播檚 safety depends on complete isolation, Emanuel craves connection, eager to explore the world outside their farm after encountering a young woman from a nearby homestead, played by Toronto-born Milcania Diaz-Rojas.

Thorne and co-writer Glenn Taylor weave the dystopian survival story together with a metaphor for the complex history of land ownership in North America. Hailey is a descendant of a Black family of farmers who settled in Canada after the American Civil War, while her partner, Michael Greyeyes香蕉视频直播� Galen, is Indigenous.

香蕉视频直播淚 wanted to make a story about a family I香蕉视频直播檝e never seen on screen before. It香蕉视频直播檚 a blended Black and Indigenous family,香蕉视频直播� says Thorne.

香蕉视频直播淚 think there are so many stories in Canada that can be told.香蕉视频直播�

Thorne says 香蕉视频直播�40 Acres香蕉视频直播� draws on several current political and economic challenges, from racial inequality to food insecurity to Indigenous land rights.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been in this space for almost a decade where socially there have been a lot of things that have been happening in the world that are causing a lot of people worry,香蕉视频直播� he says.

香蕉视频直播淗opefully (we can) put these ideas out there and let people contemplate it, but take them for a little ride as well.香蕉视频直播�

Thorne says his film has been eight years in the making and premiering it at TIFF has been a 香蕉视频直播渄ream come true.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been coming to this festival for over 20 years as a film lover, just seeing amazing films that just rocked my world,香蕉视频直播� he says.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 honoured to be able to come here and have my debut film at the festival that I love.香蕉视频直播�

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Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press