Foreword
I would like to begin by stating that this film was not written based on the current COVID-19 virus; it is by pure coincidence we did a short film about a global pandemic. Jesse Menard wrote and pitched the concept to me many years ago – before I even began my journey in filmmaking. I remember the concept being so visually compelling and stark that it stuck with me for a long time. In November 2019, I watched The Hateful Eight and, like most Tarantino films, it inspired me; the little back burner this concept had been sitting on was ignited. I promptly sent a text to Jesse with one question “do you still wanna make that film?” – we had no idea what was coming next.
About
The Cold, translated to Iowísto in Mohawk, features a young Indigenous family living in Northern Ontario with a few of their friends who have taken refuge at their farmhouse in efforts to escape a virus spreading fast in the city. A traditional tea recipe in the family passed down to Machk, Pete and Tapeesa keeps the group healthy – it’s not a cure, but the herbs are medicine that build immunity to the virus. Tapeesa and her two half brothers, Machk and Pete, have different views about sharing the recipe. Upon discovering that their neighbours, the Merciers, have fallen ill, Tapeesa wants to share the family recipe with them – especially since the neighbour’s son, Andrew, is her boyfriend. The two families have a long history fueled by petty allegations that go generations back. Machk and Pete have no desire to help the Merciers, forcing Tapeesa to make a difficult decision – sneak the herbs to the Merciers. This plan didn’t go accordingly; now ill and desperate, her return over a year later comes with a few surprises.
