SLO FILM FEST 2021 INTERVIEWS: MONKEY BEACH’s Loretta Todd talks about taking the novel to the screen and what it meant to the indigenous cast and crew members

Loretta Todd’s MONKEY BEACH, which recently screened at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, is an adaptation of Eden Robinson’s novel about a young indigenous woman with supernatural powers who returns to her family home on the coast of British Columbia after reacting to visions that warn of her brother being in danger. Her return stirs up emotional family wounds and roils their community as it brings to the surface an unease with their spiritual beliefs, ideas of loyalty and duty, and acceptance of her place in both worlds.

Todd is an indigenous Canadian filmmaker who has a comfort with the rhythms of the novel and the people that frankly are somewhat at odds with what we have been trained to expect and feel is natural in a film. It legitimately takes a moment or two or three to adjust to it. And that is on us to let go and allow ourselves to follow the flow of the film, much like our lead character must find her ease in accepting the flow of their world. Once it happens though, there is a beauty and a purity to her journey and ultimate destiny. And it is a journey well worth taking.

In the interview, we talk about the challenges of adapting a popular novel and finding the Zen of accepting the thanklessness of that effort. Todd also discusses the importance of shooting the film in the village where the book’s story was set and what that meant to the production costs, etc. We also talk about the amazing cast of indigenous actors and the rarity of having so many get to come together for a project like this and her efforts to create a safe place for them to bring those characters to life.