We sat down with Maria Munro to discuss her directional debut Sisters. The film is about the connection between sisters and Maria’s journey to reunite with her long lost relative. In our interview we discuss the bonds of family, honoring those we love and of course a little optimism in this gloomy world.
AMR: This is obviously a deeply personal story, what made you want to turn it into a film?
MM: “Sisters” was born out of my need to connect to the roots of my family after discovering a secret, a sister named Cecilia I never knew existed. Cecilia came into my life in such a random way and brought so much joy and love- something I wasn’t expecting. As I dug deeper into her life, I realised that she lived in the shadows of my family’s history. I wanted her to know that her life mattered, that she deserves to be seen and heard, that she was enough, and that I loved her.
When I finally met her in person, our time together was so short that I wanted to memorialize her life by making a film about my journey that led me towards finding her
AMR: In what way would you say this film is a reflection of the broader human spirit and the need for connection?
MM: Making the film really made me consider the importance of how we all need some form of connection. Halfway through the journey of making “Sisters” I came to learn that I wasn’t as close to my own family as I would have liked- so getting to know Cecilia was an amazing blessing in allowing me to finally connect to a sister the way I always hoped.
AMR: Due to obvious constraints, with the geopolitical situation in Venezuela how did you go about making this film?
MM: The segments in the film where I returned to my home country of Venezuela to meet with my family as well as Cecilia happened before I thought about making a film of this story so we didn’t have to deal with the hardships of having to actually make a film there. Ross (my filmmaking partner and husband) and I basically put together the whole film in our hometown of Vancouver where almost the entirety of the film was pieced together after the fact using a great deal of archival material including family photos, personal footage, and even some original animation.
AMR: What do you think this film says about family, or the family bond if the first part is too broad?
MM: “Sisters” explores how family bonds are shaped by love, secrets, cultural expectations, and the silences passed down through generations. I came to understand how family secrets can shape our sense of identity and belonging. The film also offers a glimpse into Venezuelan culture, with its warmth, contradictions, and enduring belief in family, even when complicated by secrets. Discovering a sister I never knew existed became a journey of truth and healing not only with my family’s past, but also with parts of myself. Ultimately, “Sisters” reflects the enduring power of family and the hope that it is never too late to break inherited silences, reconnect, and find belonging through love, compassion, and acceptance
AMR: Where do you plan to go from here in terms of your filmmaking career?
MM: I’m excited to direct once again with our next project- another short film (this time in the realm of fiction) that takes a nostalgic look back at my growing up as a teenager in Caracas in 1970 called “La Fiesta”. I’m looking forward to telling another side of my family history and will be the perfect cinematic bookend with “Sisters”. Then Ross and I are going to make an entirely animated short film called “The Esquire” which is about the life of a historic movie theatre- a subject very dear to our hearts as, like all avid moviegoers, we can look back and see our childhoods defined by our devotion of going to the movies. Also, we are preparing to collect our four short films (including “Sisters”) into a feature length presentation called “Married to the Movies” that we’ll be travelling across North America to present and screen in person at arthouse cinemas
AMR: How did you feel when you first saw this film in full for the first time, what emotions hit you?
MM: Seeing “Sisters” on the big screen for the first time was a very emotional experience as it made me miss Cecilia and my father at the same time. I felt transported back to my many memories of growing up with my family in Venezuela and seeing all that family history unfold before me gave me a sense of how fast time seems to fly by.
AMR: This film is mostly very hopefully how do you think that plays into the modern age where there is this perception that lots of things or even everything is bad?
MM: My hope is that people who see the film will find in it the universal themes of acceptance, love, truth and connection- and these values will always guide you towards inner peace
AMR: Any advice for future filmmakers or may want to follow in your footsteps?
MM: I would say the most important advice I can offer any future filmmakers is to listen to your instincts, keep trying to find your own voice, and build a community of trusted and likeminded collaborators. And try to enjoy the journey as much as possible!
If you would like to see this film for yourself and you live in Canada then you can head over to the Okanagan Festival where it is being screened this weekend (17-18th October) and will likely go on VOD platforms at some point in the future.
If you are a filmmaker and want us to review your film then you can simply write to us on any social media you find us on and ask us, it doesn’t matter how big or small your film is, everyone deserves a chance to have their films seen by other people and talked about.
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