During Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, Canadians Kathy and Bruce Macmillan perished in a landslide that devastated a small village in the remote Langtang Valley. Three years later, their son Jay Macmillan travels to Langtang to reconcile his trauma, by retracing his parents’ footsteps and exploring the land where they passed. In Sonder, Jay begins to forge meaningful relationships with grieving Langtangpa families as they rebuild their lives and communities, unearthing the universal powers of love, loss and acceptance.
This film was part of VIMFF 2022, VIMFF 2022 Tour and is no longer available for viewing.
The best Canadian film this year is one that was unanimously acclaimed by the judges across all of its categories. Director Jay Macmillan leads the viewers so eloquently into his personal journey that his experience transcends the screen and becomes the viewers’ own. The editing is nothing short of brilliant, mixing deeply personal archival footage and soundscapes in a way that is so deeply moving that it will stay with you forever. Stunning cinematography, patient storytelling, and an unbelievable story make Sonder one of the most compelling films of this year’s festival.
— Darcy Hennessey Turenne
Jay Macmillan is a film director and editor based in British Columbia, Canada. He has spent the last decade honing his craft in the realm of documentary, mountain culture, and adventure storytelling. His pursuit of narratives that focus on wild landscapes, foreign cultures, and unlikely characters has helped shape a raw filmmaking style, rich with nuance, passion, and curiosity. Films Jay has directed and edited have garnered numerous Vimeo Staff Picks, festival awards, and been finalists at Cannes, Festival De San Sebastian, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Telluride Mountain Film Festival, Powder Awards, Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival, 5 Point Film Festival, and National Geographic Short Film Showcase. These films have amassed over 10 million views online.
