Original subtitles

The day my children were taken.

The day my children were taken.

I'm a good mother.

I'm strong. Keep it together.

I'm a good mother.

I'm a good mother.

- Go on.

- All rise. - Judge Fleming presiding.

Welcome.

Counsel.

- Thank you, Your Honour. Leading up

to the removal of the Little Bird children,

the social workers who were present noted

a number of signs of neglect,

including inadequate food,

unfit living conditions,

and a sick child kept in a crawlspace

under the floor as a part of some type of punishment.

What's the recommendation, Counsel?

My recommendation is that the children

who are now in foster care and thriving

become permanent wards of the Crown and be given

a fair chance of integration into Canadian society.

Will the representative

of the Little Bird family corroborate?

- Thank you kindly, Counsel.

I can confirm

that this report is accurate and true

and matches my notes on the situation that we found.

I would like to add that the father is

no longer in the picture.

The mother is all alone.

Therefore, I am in full support

- of Counsel's recommendation. - Can you confirm

that the children are thriving in foster care?

- Oh, yes. And there has been significant interest

in all three children from very good homes

who are looking to adopt.

This court finds that it's in the best interest

of the children that they become permanent wards of the Crown.

Thank you, Counsel.

All rise!

- I... I have this to say. - It's over.

- ♪ Hey, little bird, I remember you ♪

♪ You with your dreams up higher than you could fly ♪

♪ Hey, I remember you ♪

♪ Hey, hey, little bird ♪

♪ Lost in the summer sun ♪

♪ Those were the days when your feathers were new ♪

♪ And I remember you ♪

♪ Little bird ♪

♪ Now it's all coming back ♪

♪ The whole world is your habitat ♪

♪ But more than that ♪

♪ If we meet again, will you know me? ♪

♪ So, little bird ♪

♪ Flash your colours and I will sing ♪

♪ Glide into time with the moon on your wing ♪

♪ Little bird ♪

♪ Little bird ♪

♪ Little bird ♪

♪ Like a gull of the sea ♪

♪ Your resting place ♪

♪ Could be heaven or countless oceans ♪

♪ Far from me ♪

- Hi, sweetheart. Come here.

Give me a hug. Ohhh!

How was your day? - Cool.

Where did you find this ball?

Next door?

Oh! Who's winning?

Oh-ho-ho!

Did you follow me to my house?

- Well, I thought that maybe you might

talk to me in a less formal setting.

- You can't come to my home!

- Look, I wouldn't normally do this,

but I felt like you were about to say something...

- I can't help you. - I know,

but I know this isn't how this is supposed to go.

But what if your daughter never got to meet your son?

I just don't understand what harm

you or child protective services think it would do.

- Come back to the office, and I'll check with legal.

- Legal isn't gonna release any of my information.

- Look, I need to get lunch on.

- Wait. Please.

In case you remember something...

Do not come to my house again.

Go inside.

Bezhig?

Bezhig, I need you.

Do you have sense of where Dora might be?

I haven't seen her in five years now.

She ran off.

You... you didn't report it to the police?

She didn't run away from home.

She was kicked out.

- Where are you?

- Ah, you're hurting me!

- Stop moving then. Geez!

- I love your costume.

- It's not a costume.

- I was beginning to think that we were the only Natives

at this hotel. Are you here for the pow-wow?

- Me? No.

I mean, I would have loved to, but...

- Where are you from? - Montreal.

- Hahaha! No, where are you from?

- I'm not really sure.

- Well, say no more. I'm Cliff.

- Esther.

But also... Bezhig?

- Bezhig? Oh, Bezhig?

That means "number one" in Ojibwe.

Ojibwe?

Where are they from? - We come

from all over the place. We spread like wildfire.

Cliff! Come help me with these bags!

- I'm gonna dance for you, Bezhig.

- Hi. I'm hoping you can help me.

I'm looking for any public document or record

to help me find my sister.

- It's 13.55.

Esther Rosenblum?

Here's your girl.

- Excuse me.

I need any phone number or address

associated with these charges.

- Well, I can't be giving out personal information.

- Okay, sure.

Can you please call

any phone number associated with these charges and...

just ask my sister if she wants me to have her number?

- "Officer called to the scene

on an assault charge."

No phone number.

"819, Attley Street, apartment 108."

Be careful, it's a rough area.

- I'll be fine. - Sure.

- Anybody home?

Who are you looking for?

- Oh, hi. Uh, Dora Mueller?

- Oh, heck.

You're about two years too late.

She didn't die or nothing.

She moved.

- Well, do you have any idea where she might be?

- Why don't you come in. I made some tea.

Have a seat!

- Sure.

You like that?

- Hmm. It's beautiful.

I've had that a long time.

- Thank you.

- And there's my grandkids.

You're not from around here, eh?

- No. Not really.

- That's okay.

- Oh, thank you.

My name is Esther by the way.

- Hmm. Val.

- So, you knew Dora?

That depends. Who's asking?

- She's my sister. - Really?

- Hard to believe, I know.

I got this address from the police actually.

- That's no surprise.

- Well, do you know what happened?

Why the police were called?

- It's not my place, but...

there was this guy.

He is a real loser.

He's jealous.

He didn't like her working the street,

so he tried to rough her up.

So, she beat the crap out of him.

She threw his stuff out the window.

It was hilarious. You should have seen it.

She didn't take crap from nobody, that girl.

- Wow.

Well, do you have any idea where I might find her?

Oy.

I haven't seen her since she moved out.

You could try the outreach centre.

A lot of the girls go there.

It's just over on Albert,

about 10 blocks from here. - Thank you.

I really appreciate your help. - Well, that's good.

- And this tea.

- Oh, my girl, look at that!

Holy! - Haha!

- That's bigger than a snowball in the bush in winter.

Hey, who gave you this one, lucky girl?

- His name is David.

- Aaah...

Is he nice?

- Yeah. - Oh. Well, that's good.

It's always nice to have a sweet guy in your life.

- ♪ But I found you ♪

♪ When I wasn't looking ♪

♪ I thought I closed my eyes ♪

♪ For good ♪

♪ But I got lucky ♪

- seen the look on his ugly fucking face.

- Dana, the nurse is ready for you and Jeannetta now.

- ♪ Set my burdens free ♪

Can I help you?

Can I help you?

- Oh! Yes.

I'm looking for my sister.

Dora Mueller.

- Oh... These girls know her. Hey.

She's looking for Dora.

She's my sister.

- Get the fuck out of town! - Didn't know Dora had a sister.

Oh, my God, you look just like her.

- You know her? - Are you kidding?

Dora's my girl.

- Fuck off, she's my girl too.

- Well, do you have any sense of where she might be?

- She usually comes around here on Fridays.

- That was for her class, but I think that's done.

- She's getting her GED. I can't fucking keep track of her.

- Wasn't she picking up shifts at that weird place

with the pool tables? - Ronnie's?

- No, Eddy's. - Yeah, Eddy's.

Not sure if she has any more, though.

It's like two blocks that way.

- You okay, honey? Are you okay, honey?

- Yes. Thank you for your help.

Bezhig?

Bezhig?

Spare change?

- Yeah.

Thank you, Sister.

- What can I get you?

- May I get a glass of red wine, please?

- Yeah, I think we got wine back here somewhere.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

Excuse me?

Are you Dora Mueller?

- What do you want?

- I've been looking for you.

- Well, who the fuck are you?

- I'm your sister.

I went to child protective services,

and they gave me your name.

They said you were looking for family.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. - I'm Bezhig.

Holy shit! Holy shit!

Oh, my God!

This whole time, I was like, "I know I have a sister

out there somewhere." I didn't know if I was

making it up or what.

Where have you been?

Where the fuck have you been?

Look so fancy.

- You are so pregnant.

Yes. Yeah, I'm pregnant.

Holy fuck!

Hahahaha!

My sister Bezhig.

This is your car?

Well, no, it's a rental.

Okay, cool.

- Okay...

So, are you rich or something?

No. Not compared

to the people who are really rich.

You look so good.

- Thanks. What did you think I'd look like?

- I mean, I didn't know what to think.

I had to find you through the police,

and I saw some charges.

And I just got worried.

- Don't assume shit about me just 'cause you read

some fucking file. You don't know me!

Sorry.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I'm just really happy to find you.

That's all.

- So what now?

Can we start over?

I was rude, and...

I shouldn't have made assumptions about you.

Do you always talk like that?

Are you a teacher or something?

A lawyer.

Well, not yet but soon.

- Holy, just a lawyer? Haha!

Jesus Christ!

No wonder you thought I was all fucking down-and-out.

Hahahaha! Geez.

I'm just kidding, fuck.

Do you wanna come to my mansion

and meet my man or... what?

If we stay around here much longer, people are gonna

think we're fucking dealing or some shit.

- Sure. - Yeah, let's go.

- You should probably put your seatbelt on.

- Why, 'cause it's the law?

- ♪ Well, you know I'm not praying from ♪

- Oh, take a left up here.

Okay.

- ♪ Someone to love ♪

♪ Just a little while ♪

- Anywhere here is fine.

- ♪ Though those first few months were lovely ♪

- So, Eddy seemed like a nice place.

- No, it's not. It's fucking gross. But he pays me

under the table, so I can still collect my welfare cheques.

- Okay. Great.

Come in. Over here.

- Wow.

It's a cute little house... in a nice neighbourhood.

Baby? Guess what.

- Hey. - Hey.

- What, you're pregnant? - Yeah.

- Baby, um, this is my sister.

- Wow!

Shit! Oh! - Hahaha!

- Okay. Uh... I'm Doug.

- Esther. - Good to meet you.

- Wow!

I don't even know what to say. Uh...

I know.

Well, Sister, uh,

come have a seat. Can I take your jacket?

- Oh, yeah, sure.

Thank you. - Yeah, no problem.

- Thank you. - Uh...

Baby, you need anything? - Uh, just a water, please.

- Okay. - Thank you.

So, I put my name in the child protective services,

like, um, four years ago,

you know, for family and, um...

I wasn't even looking looking.

Um... I just needed a place to stay.

Here she is. - Yeah, you ordered her up.

Yeah.

Hoho! Oh, man,

even baby thought that was funny.

- Haha! - She's doing somersaults.

Feel.

- ♪ There's a million wishing ♪

- Baby girl, it's your auntie, Bezhig.

Hahaha!

- ♪ Just let it go ♪

- Man, I didn't even think

this baby would have any aunties.

- I met your adoptive family.

- What?

- Well, it was one of the first places

I went to, you know, try to find you.

Your mom seemed cold, but your brother seemed nice.

- Fuck them.

- Yeah, I got the sense

it didn't really go well with them.

- It doesn't matter.

They didn't win.

- Seems like Dora

hit the jackpot with you for an older sister.

Maybe you becoming a lawyer and all that.

- I don't know about that.

- This girl,

let me tell you something,

you hit the jackpot too.

- Come on, stop.

- For real though. The way you pulled

yourself up, like getting your GED and all that.

Hope it's okay to say, but when I first met her, she was

this scrappy little angry ball.

Now you put your hand

on her shoulder, she'd jump like a stray cat.

She's been through a lot.

But there ain't nothing keeping her down,

ain't that right, Mom?

- I'm sorry you had to go through all that.

- It made me stronger.

- Working my way up to own my own restaurant

and working shifts for whoever will put me on the schedule,

you know.

It's tough pulling gigs when you got a record.

- Yeah, well, you're a great cook,

so I don't see why it won't work out.

- Getting tired, Mama?

- Yeah.

- I am so happy that we met.

I've been staring

at these photos that your brother gave me

just... not sure if I'd find you.

Oh. And your brother

wanted me to tell you that he misses you

and he thinks about you a lot.

- Fuck this. Fucking done. - What?

- Doug, tell her to go the fuck home!

- What? I'm... I'm sorry. I...

- Shit, she's gonna be fine. - I don't know what I said.

I don't know what happened. - It's gonna be fine,

no worries.

Just leave me your number.

- I'm sorry.

- It's okay.

It's okay, it is. She... she'll come around.

It's only me.

Doing your homework?

- I'm gettin' it done. - Yeah.

- Where... where are Mom and Dad?

- Just in the basement, uh...

Just watching TV. They... they can't hear.

Can I see that?

You have on lipstick.

No, no, no. That's...

It looks really good.

Really good.

- ♪ Sounds of the night ♪

♪ Colours of the dawn ♪ - He's your brother!

- ♪ Come to me sadly ♪ - Your brother!

♪ Saying you are gone ♪ - Please!

♪ Gone to the lakes ♪ - Out! Get out!

- Out where? - ♪ Gone far from me ♪

♪ Now to do as you please ♪

♪ Leaving me ♪

♪ Walking down ♪ - Stop it! Mom!

- ♪ To the arms ♪

♪ Of my town ♪ - You're a whore!

- ♪ Ojibwe star ♪

Mom! Let me in! Mom!

- ♪ Ojibwe star ♪

♪ Long gone ♪

Please let get me get my stuff!

- ♪ Our city lights ♪

♪ Yellow and green ♪

♪ Light the cold streets ♪

♪ Where you and I have been ♪

- Mom! - ♪ Wiser than me ♪

♪ To leave them behind ♪

♪ Leaving me someday ♪

♪ To make up my mind ♪

♪ Where it is ♪

♪ I belong ♪

♪ How was it ♪

♪ I went wrong ♪

♪ Ojibwe star ♪

♪ Once we were one ♪

♪ Ojibwe star ♪

♪ You're gone, long gone ♪

Hi.

- Yes?

- Yes.

- I'm not sure.

- Thank you.

Mrs. Halpern?

- Thank you, thank you. I...

Take all the time you need.

Can you hear me, Son?

Morris, talk to me, Son.

Say something.

- Dad?

I tried, Morris.

I tried.

I'm so sorry.

- ♪ God is alive ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ God is alive ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ God is afoot ♪

♪ Magic is alive ♪

♪ Alive is afoot ♪

♪ Magic never died ♪

♪ God never sickened ♪

♪ Many poor men lied ♪

♪ Many sick men lied ♪

♪ Magic never weakened ♪

♪ Magic never hid ♪

♪ Magic always ruled ♪

♪ God is afoot ♪

♪ God never died ♪

♪ God was ruler ♪

♪ Though his funeral lengthened ♪

♪ Though his mourners thickened ♪

♪ Magic never fled ♪

♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪

♪ The naked God did live ♪

♪ Though his words were twisted ♪

♪ The naked Magic thrived ♪

♪ Though his death was published ♪

♪ Round and round the world ♪

♪ The heart did not believe ♪

♪ Many hurt men wondered ♪

♪ Many struck men bled ♪

♪ Magic never faltered ♪

♪ Magic always led ♪

♪ Many stones were rolled ♪

♪ But God would not lie down ♪

♪ Many wild men lied ♪

♪ Many fat men listened ♪

♪ Though they offered stones ♪

♪ Magic still was fed ♪

♪ Though they locked their coffers ♪

♪ God was always served ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ God rules ♪

♪ Alive is afoot ♪

♪ Alive is in command ♪

♪ Many weak men hungered ♪

♪ Many strong men thrived ♪

♪ Though they boasted solitude ♪

♪ God was at their side ♪

♪ Nor the dreamer in his cell ♪

♪ Nor the captain on the hill ♪

♪ Magic is alive ♪

♪ Though his death was pardoned ♪

♪ Round and round the world ♪

♪ The heart did not believe ♪

♪ Though laws were carved in marble ♪

♪ They could not shelter men ♪

♪ Though altars built in parliaments ♪

♪ They could not order men ♪

♪ Police arrested Magic ♪

♪ And Magic went with them ♪

♪ For Magic loves the hungry ♪

♪ But Magic would not tarry ♪

♪ It moves from arm to arm ♪

♪ It would not stay with them ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ It cannot come to harm ♪

♪ It rests in an empty palm ♪

♪ It spawns in an empty mind ♪

♪ But Magic is no instrument ♪

♪ Magic is the end ♪

♪ Many men drove Magic ♪

♪ And Magic stayed behind ♪

♪ Many strong men lied ♪

♪ They only passed through Magic ♪

♪ And out the other side ♪

♪ Many weak men lied ♪

♪ They came to God in secret ♪

♪ And though they left him nourished ♪

♪ They would not tell who healed ♪

♪ Though mountains danced before them ♪

- AAAAH! - ♪ They said God was dead ♪

♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪

♪ The naked God did live ♪

♪ This I mean to whisper to my mind ♪

♪ This I mean to laugh with in my mind ♪

♪ This I mean my mind to serve ♪

♪ 'Til service is but Magic moving through the world ♪

♪ And mind itself is Magic coursing through the flesh ♪

♪ And flesh itself is Magic ♪

♪ Dancing on a clock ♪

♪ And time itself ♪

♪ The magic length of God ♪

♪ God is alive ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ God is alive ♪

♪ Magic is afoot ♪

♪ God is afoot Magic is alive ♪

♪ Alive is afoot ♪

♪ Magic never died ♪

♪ God never sickened ♪

♪ Many poor men lied ♪

♪ Many sick men lied ♪

♪ Magic never weakened ♪

♪ Magic never hid ♪

♪ Magic always ruled ♪

♪ God is afoot ♪

♪ God never died ♪

♪ God was ruler ♪

♪ Though his funeral lengthened ♪

♪ Though his mourners thickened ♪

♪ Magic never fled ♪

♪ Though his shrouds were hoisted ♪

♪ The naked God did live ♪

♪ Though his words were twisted ♪

♪ The naked Magic thrived ♪