Cross My Heart

Set during the October Crisis in Canada, the plot unfolds as FLQ kidnappings dominate headlines and authorities respond with emergency measures. The social tension seeps into everyday life, affecting families and communities.

The story moves between the impoverished neighborhoods of Montreal where Manon and her family struggle, and a remote cabin near Saint-Zénon, Quebec where the children execute their plan. The contrast highlights the claustrophobic city life and the isolation of rural spaces that shape the kids' choices.

🧒 Childhood

Manon and Mimi shoulder adult responsibilities under strain, illustrating how fear, neglect, and crisis can force children to make consequential decisions. Their improvised 'manifesto' and attempted kidnapping reveal a child's attempt to reclaim control over a destabilized home. Manon's drive to protect Mimi shows both courage and misjudgment, rooted in scarce resources and unstable family dynamics. The film uses their perspective to examine resilience and vulnerability in a world of adult conflicts.

🏛️ Politics

The October Crisis provides a volatile backdrop that intersects with family life. It shows how political unrest infiltrates private spaces and daily routines. Characters are drawn into debates about revolution, authority, and the legitimacy of state power. The narrative exposes the human costs of radical politics on ordinary citizens, especially children who interpret events through fear and longing for safety.

💔 Loss

The father's death compounds the family's instability and signals a turning point for Manon and Mimi. The threat of foster care intensifies their sense of urgency and a desperate bid for stability. The act of kidnapping becomes a misguided attempt to preserve a sense of belonging. The story underlines the fragility of domestic bonds when confronted with external pressures.

🗺️ Freedom

The children's experiences of confinement and control push them toward autonomy. Their escape to a foster home and subsequent journey symbolize a longing for agency. The prospect of Disneyland acts as a symbolic promise of innocence and a decent future. Ultimately, the film questions what freedom means when safety remains uncertain and family ties are at stake.