ALYS TOMLINSON
MOTHER VERA
Six years in the making and winner of the Grierson Award for Best Documentary at The British Film Institute, Alys Tomlinson’s feature length film ‘Mother Vera’, made in collaboration with Cécile Embleton, is shown in cinemas across the UK following its preview screening at the ICA.
Paired with cinematic visuals and rich storytelling, ‘Mother Vera’ further progresses the world of documentary and its place as an art form…
In a hidden Orthodox monastery in Belarus, MOTHER VERA weaves the inner world of an unorthodox young nun with the community that saved her life. After 20 years as a monastic, Vera faces deep inner conflict. Now, she must confront her past and trust her instincts to find the liberation she desires.
Taken on their first visit to Vera’s convent in Belarus, Alys initially went for a week with an openness to the unfolding story ahead. This image acts as both an insight into the film’s protagonist, as well as marking the start of six years worth of filming and editing, culminating in the documentary feature film ‘Mother Vera’.
In Alys’s own words, “It’s not often that a character like Vera enters your life – someone who is willing to share so much, to be open and vulnerable with strangers. The three of us (me, Cécile Embleton and Vera) formed a close bond that enabled us to film at the most difficult moments of her life. We are forever grateful to Vera for trusting us with her story.”
Supported by the Sundance Institute, Alys and the team worked with Leo Cauteruccio to record sound on location, allowing them to design and create the film’s soundscape
FOR UP-TO-DATE SCREENINGS, PLEASE VISIT:
WWW.MOTHERVERAFILM.CO.UK
DIRECTOR
@ALYS TOMLINSON
@CÉCILE EMBLETON
PRODUCTION
@LAURA SCHACAM / She Makes Productions
EDITOR
@ROMAIN BECK
SOUND
@LEO CAUTERUCCIO
COLOURIST
@ROMAIN KEDOCHIM
SPECIAL THANKS
@SUNDANCE ORGANISATION