Unfolding Faith

Après la foi

Elyse Bouvier
2025 | 23 min 18 s
Documentary
English

Awards and Festivals

Official SelectionCalgary International Film Festival - Shorts Real and True Programme, Canada (2025)

A National Film Board of Canada production

A young filmmaker explores the roots of religion in family dynamics and what happens to those bonds when faith is lost.

Synopsis

In this nuanced and timely short film, Elyse Bouvier explores how her decision to give up her faith redefined both her identity and her relationships with her parents. In raw yet empathic conversations with her devout mother and her father, a former pastor turned atheist, she touches on themes of emotional connection, intellectual pursuit and mixed-faith families.

Watch the film

Credits

A Film by
Elyse Bouvier

Featuring
Elyse Bouvier
Peter Bouvier
Shauna Sage
Wendy Denbigh

Written and Directed by
Elyse Bouvier

Producer
Marie-France Guerrette
Chehala Leonard

Line Producer
Jennifer Roworth

Director of Photography
Patrick McLaughlin

Editor
Sarah Taylor, CCE

Original Music Composed and Performed by
Aidan Knight

Additional Photography
Anna Cooley

Sound Recordist
Alex Mitchell
Ron Osiowy
Valerie Siu

Sound Designer
Daniel Toussaint

Narration Recording
James Allinson

Audio Engineer
Six Degrees Music and Sound

Foley Recording Engineer
Geoffrey Mitchell

Foley Artist
Lise Wedlock

Re-recording Mixer
Isabelle Lussier

Development Consultant
Laura O’Grady

Senior Production Coordinator
Maddy Chang
Janet Kwan

Production Administrator
Nathan Conchie

Technical Coordinator
Wes Machnikowski
Lyne Lapointe

Colourist and Online Editor
Yannick Carrier

Titles
Mélanie Bouchard

Researcher, Music Rights
Peter Martinelli-Bunzl

Special Thanks
David Christensen
Carmyn Effa
Steven Sutcliffe
Robert Cameron
Angela Camacho
Jess Nicol
Rod Moody-Corbett
Dan Crittenden
Lynda Daniluk
Gail Sokolan
The Next Page
Rosso Coffee Roasters
MPR Inc.
New Club Café
Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning

Music

“John My Beloved”
Written and Performed by Sufjan Stevens
Published by BMG Gold Songs (BMI) obo Sufjan Stevens Music
All rights administered by BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
Courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty Records, by arrangement with Ghost Town, Inc.

“Where Will You Go””
Written by Ken Torrance
Performed by Love Chapter Band
New Born Records, 1978
Published by Bobalwyn

Archives
Courtesy of Elyse Bouvier and Family

Versioning and Accessibility Coordinator
Sylvie Azoulay

Senior Marketing Advisor
Laurianne Désormiers

Marketing Project Manager
Geneviève Bérard

Marketing Coordinator
Michelle Rozon

Publicist
Katja De Bock

Legal Advisor
Julie Patry

Executive Producer
Shirley Vercruysse

Media Relations

Katja De Bock
NFB Publicist – Vancouver
C.: 778-628-4890
k.debock@nfb.ca | @NFB_Katja

About the NFB

Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.