The Cinematheque

“[Cairns] has made an atmospheric debut feature that immerses us in an eerie, unsettling world … Through its heroine, the film explores themes of desire for escape, pain, and grief, all within a halo of strangeness and ethereal poetry, enhanced by the grain of 16mm film.”

Festival du nouveau cinéma 2024

While straining to emotionally connect with those around her, a young woman named Cora experiences debilitating and painful allergic reactions to food. Looking for answers to her medical mystery, Cora discovers Sun Haven, an isolated community practicing breatharianism—the pseudoscientific belief that humans can survive solely on light and air. Set on a Gulf Island in British Columbia, Inedia creates, with glistening 16mm cinematography, a trance-like atmosphere mirroring Cora’s fragile mental state. After a series of unsettling events, Cora notices cracks of darkness hiding in the corners of her new community, revealing how vulnerability can be exploited under the guise of healing. Cairns’s screenplay offers a suspenseful and nuanced portrayal of eating disorders and group manipulation, resulting in one of the most compelling Canadian dramas of the past year.

Post-screening discussion with writer-director Liz Cairns.

Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, series director.