by Curtis Seufert, The Source
Staceyann Chin was a ‘barrel child,’ one of the many Caribbean-born children who, in the 20th century, were left behind by parents who pursued opportunities abroad to better support their children. But these children were restricted from entering Canada alongside their parents due to baked-in immigration restrictions.
Laurie Townshend’s documentary film, A Mother Apart, to be screened at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF), offers a poignant reflection on motherhood, separation and healing. It highlights the story of Chin, a Jamaica-born, New York-based LGBTQ+ activist – and now a mother herself – as she searches worldwide to reconnect with her mother.
While Townshend was originally looking to spotlight the lives of 4 different activist mothers for her latest film, her discussions with Chin revealed that a dedicated documentary to Chin’s story would be necessary to do it justice, as she began the search for her mother.
