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.

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

For more than 80 years, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has produced, distributed and preserved those stories, which now form a vast audiovisual collection—an important part of our cultural heritage that represents all Canadians.

To tell these stories, the NFB works with filmmakers of all ages and backgrounds, from across the country. It harnesses their creativity to produce relevant and groundbreaking content for curious, engaged and diverse audiences. The NFB also collaborates with industry experts to foster innovation in every aspect of storytelling, from formats to distribution models.

Every year, another 50 or so powerful new animated and documentary films are added to the NFB’s extensive collection of more than 14,000 titles, half of which are available to watch for free on nfb.ca.

Through its mandate, its stature and its productions, the NFB contributes to Canada’s cultural identity and is helping to build the Canada of tomorrow.