Kat Harlton
Photos: Toronto International Film Festival
In their feature directorial debut, Aberdeen, Ryan Cooper and Eva Thomas follow the turbulent life of their title character (Gail Maurice, Bones of Crows, TIFF ’22) as she finds herself fighting for the stability of her grandkids.
An idyllic childhood with her mooshum and kookum, or grandparents, in her community of Peguis First Nation dissipates as Aberdeen’s hard-partying and absentee parents distances her from that haven.
Now an adult, sleeping on public benches, Winnipeg-based Aberdeen is in survival mode. The last remaining stable parts of her life begin slipping away — her reliable brother Boyd (Ryan Black, Dance Me Outside, TIFF ’94) is ill and gives up Aberdeen’s grandkids to the foster care system. Then she loses her ID.
Houseless, and without proper identification, she is rebuffed time and again as she seeks out services meant to help her. It’s only when she hitches a ride back to her home community that she’s treated like a valued person and can see the potential to stop generational trauma.
We had the opportunity to connect with Co-Directors Ryan Cooper and Eva Thomas to discuss the film’s inspiration, challenges and what they hope the audience connects with.
Can you share the origin story of “Aberdeen”? What inspired you to create this film?
Aberdeen is a deeply personal story for Ryan Cooper. Written over a decade ago, the original concept was inspired by the severe flooding on Peguis First Nation and the displacement that followed. Ryan drew from his own family, particularly his aunties, whose personalities and attitudes significantly shaped many of the characters. The film also reflects Ryan’s frustration with the Canadian government, especially his own challenging experience navigating the bureaucratic process of obtaining an ID. This personal struggle became a key element of the story. Interestingly, the first draft of Aberdeen was written entirely on his phone.
Ryan and Eva Thomas met in 2018 during the Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative. After sharing the script with Eva, she provided notes, and together they embarked on the journey of co-writing and co-directing Aberdeen.
How did you approach the scriptwriting process? Were there any personal experiences or influences that shaped the narrative?
Ryan approached the scriptwriting process by drawing deeply from his personal experiences. He pours everything he has been through into the structure and story. For Aberdeen, this was no exception—it’s a film shaped entirely by his life, family, community, and perspective. Ryan builds the world of a story through a combination of outlining and inspiration from other films. These elements contributed to the creation of the first draft of Aberdeen. When Eva joined the project, her writing skills elevated the script, helping to refine the structure and fully develop the narrative.
Co-directing can be both rewarding and challenging. How did you divide responsibilities during production? Any memorable moments from working together?
After working on the script together, Ryan asked Eva if she would direct the film. Initially, Eva declined due to the personal nature of the project. However, she agreed to co-direct, recognizing the importance of Ryan’s story and his need to shape the narrative, the visuals, and the creative aspects along the way. This collaboration allowed Ryan’s vision to be fully realized while benefiting from Eva’s input and guidance.
From the start, they developed a clear game plan. They decided that one of them would take the lead in communicating with the cast and crew, but both would always contribute to the creative decisions. This approach ensured they worked as a cohesive team throughout production.
One of the most rewarding aspects of co-directing was having someone to discuss each take with. After every shot, Eva would seek out Ryan’s feedback, making sure he was happy with it and incorporating any of his recommendations. This back-and-forth made the process smoother and more fulfilling. Particularly memorable were the moments when they both agreed on a take, sharing smiles or thumbs-ups.
Did your individual filmmaking styles complement each other, or did you encounter creative differences? How did you resolve them?
Like any strong team, there were moments of debate, but not necessarily creative differences. Instead, there were times when they had to find common ground, and they always managed to get there by the end of the day. This was a great partnership built on respect and collaboration.
Eva excelled at working with the actors, bringing out the best performances, while Ryan acted as an extra set of eyes, focusing on the technical aspects of filmmaking. Since Ryan knew the story and world so well, having him on set was incredibly beneficial. There was confidence in moving forward because the person who originally imagined, wrote, and lived the story agreed that what they captured on film was true to the vision.
Both Ryan and Eva were deeply familiar with the script, allowing them to have in-depth discussions about how any potential changes might impact other parts of the narrative. This shared understanding ensured that any decisions made were thoughtful and intentional.
The cast of “Aberdeen” is impressive. What was the casting process like? What qualities were you looking for in their performances?
The casting process for Aberdeen involved seeing many incredible actors. Ryan and Eva knew were thrilled to cast Gail Maurice, an incredible actor who perfectly embodied the character.
Eva had a previous working relationship with Gail, which really contributed to the trust on set between the actor and directors. Gail was simply amazing; she just got Aberdeen. The character is rough around the edges, doesn’t take any crap, and we needed someone who could handle both the drama and the comedic moments. Gail nailed it.
The team was also excited to work with remarkable Indigenous talent from across Canada, including Jessie Anthony, whose role was pivotal to the film. Everyone fit perfectly into their roles, and Ryan and Eva are grateful to have worked with such talented individuals.
Were there any challenging scenes to shoot? How did you overcome those challenges?
For Ryan, nearly every scene was challenging due to the personal nature of the story. Reliving the traumas that Aberdeen goes through was emotionally taxing and required a lot of vulnerability. Eva was incredibly mindful of how personal these experiences were for Ryan and how they might trigger him. There were moments when Eva noticed that certain scenes were impacting Ryan deeply. During these times, Eva made sure to hold things together, allowing Ryan space to step away from the set and get some fresh air when needed.
One scene, in particular, the bridge scene, was especially hard for Ryan to film. It was a deeply emotional and intense sequence, making it particularly challenging for him to get through. Additionally, witnessing Darla Contos’ incredible performance as Pritchard repeatedly during filming was difficult. Seeing the scene unfold over and over was emotionally tough, but the performances were fantastic.
‘Aberdeen’ explores themes of identity and belonging. Can you elaborate on that? What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
The themes of identity and belonging are central to Aberdeen. Ryan often finds himself explaining his identity, which he finds both reflective and empowering. It’s a continuous reminder of his heritage, strength, and community.
Ryan hopes that audiences will gain a greater understanding of these complexities and find resonance in the story. Ultimately, he wants viewers to reflect on their own sense of identity and belonging and to appreciate the strength it takes to navigate these personal and cultural dimensions.
The film was intentionally crafted to embody empathy and compassion for characters like Aberdeen, recognizing that many individuals come from traumatic backgrounds and are doing their best to move forward with their lives. It highlights how our past experiences shape our present and future.
Ryan and Eva hope that audiences will come away with a deeper understanding of these themes and a sense of empathy for those working through their past traumas while striving to build a better future.
Congratulations on premiering at TIFF! How does it feel to showcase your work on such a prestigious platform?
Ryan and Eva are honored and incredibly excited, though also a bit nervous, to have Aberdeen premiere at TIFF. Showcasing their work on such a prestigious platform is a significant milestone, and they are thrilled to share the film on a worldwide stage. This year, with a record number of Indigenous films featured at TIFF, it is an especially exciting time to be an Indigenous creator. Ryan and Eva are grateful for the support from one another, as well as from the broader community of Indigenous filmmakers. They are looking forward to connecting with the Indigenous Filmmaking community at TIFF!
What are your expectations for the audience’s reaction? Any nerves or excitement?
Ryan and Eva are excited for people to see Aberdeen. They hope the film evokes an emotional response from the audience. They think the Indigenous audience members will “get” the film and are particularly eager to see how non-Indigenous audiences receive it. They hope that viewers will recognize and appreciate the love and respect that went into creating the film..
How do you hope “Aberdeen” resonates with viewers? Are there specific discussions or conversations you’d like it to spark?
Ryan and Eva hope that Aberdeen resonates with viewers in a meaningful way. Their primary goal is for the film to foster empathy and compassion for Aberdeen, encouraging audiences to root for her. If Aberdeen succeeds in eliciting such emotional engagement, Ryan and Eva will feel that they have achieved their objective.
For more on Aberdeen including showtimes visit: https://tiff.net/events/aberdeen