The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open (Kwakʼwala: Malkʼwalaʼmida uḵwineʼ leʼołeʼ yax̱idixa̱nʼs ʼnalax̱, Northern Sami: Rumaš muitá go máilbmi rahtasii, Blackfoot: Koistominno saakaisksinima ksaahkomm otsitsikowohpihpi) is a 2019 Canadian drama film written and directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn.

[1] The film centres on a chance interaction between two Indigenous women of contrasting lived experience and socio-economic position, Áila (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) and Rosie (Violet Nelson), as they navigate the effects of intimate partner violence.

The film opens with a series of vignettes introducing Rosie, a young Kwakwaka’wakw woman, and Áila (Blackfoot and Sámi).

Rosie slowly opens up, revealing that she was recently phased out of foster care, but remains adamant they not call the police.

Áila explains what happened, and Rosie details some of her boyfriend's abuse, but restates that she will not go the police, due to him being on bail, and her belief that they will not treat her with respect.

Sophie and Cat offer Rosie a room at the safe house for as long as she needs, and access to social services.

At the apartment, Áila tearfully watches Rosie walk away before driving off as night falls over East Vancouver.

[5] Production of the film involved an indigenous youth mentorship program, funded through Telus Storyhive, which placed 11 young First Nations filmmakers within each department as mentees.

[6][7] The directors initially intended for the film to play as one continuous, real-time shot in order to create a heightened state of immediacy for both the actors and the audience.

The website's consensus reads, "The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open uses an encounter between two strangers as the catalyst for a thoughtful drama as poetic as its title.