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To my birthmother...

2002 54 min
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Delving into the past is a risky business but for someone who's been adopted, there's a compelling need to know. When Marie Klaassen went looking for her birthmother, she discovered that trying to find her would take perseverance and guts and that succeeding in the search was not the end but another beginning. To my birthmother... answers the question "Oh my God, how did you find me?" with warmth and dignity. It is Marie's frank and earthy account of a personal journey through other times and other places to find the woman who gave her life. Told as a video …

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To my birthmother...

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Delving into the past is a risky business but for someone who's been adopted, there's a compelling need to know. When Marie Klaassen went looking for her birthmother, she discovered that trying to find her would take perseverance and guts and that succeeding in the search was not the end but another beginning.

To my birthmother... answers the question "Oh my God, how did you find me?" with warmth and dignity. It is Marie's frank and earthy account of a personal journey through other times and other places to find the woman who gave her life. Told as a video diary, it's a fascinating story of a reunion fraught with suspense, humour and humanity.

  • director
    Beverly Shaffer
  • participant
    Marie Klaassen
    Janine Maxwell
    Henry Klaassen
    Grace Klaassen
    Bob Sargalis
    Leah Klaassen
    Jon Klaassen
    Joan Jezegou
    Holly Boychuk
    Isabelle Sargalis
    Lionel Sargalis
    Holly Kramer
    Norma Hughes Howard
  • editor
    Howard Goldberg
  • director of photography
    Joan Hutton
  • camera assistant
    Julia Auriemma
  • sound recordist
    Stephen Bourne
    Gordon Ross
    Michael Kennedy
    Patrick Rowan
  • production manager
    Elisa Suppa
  • production assistant
    Lionel Sargalis
    Karen Holah
  • additional editing
    Natacha Dufaux
  • original music
    Robert M. Lepage
  • additional music
    Intermède Plus
  • sound editor
    Don Ayer
  • foley
    Lise Wedlock
  • re-recording
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • titles
    Louise Overy
    Arnold Koroshegyi
  • graphics
    Louise Overy
    Arnold Koroshegyi
  • online editor
    Denis Pilon
  • post-production co-ordinator
    Linda Payette
    Claude Cardinal
  • digital editing technician
    Chaz Oliver
  • production administration assistant
    Nickie Merulla
    Christine Williams
  • program administrator
    Marie Tonto-Donati
  • producer
    Beverly Shaffer
    Mark Zannis
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner

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To my birthmother...
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