Through Black Spruce

Suzanne Bird, a model, was last seen in Toronto with her abusive boyfriend Gus. Annie Bird, a Cree woman from Moosonee and Suzanne's identical twin, cares for her mother Lizette and her uncle Will, whose lives become entangled in Suzanne's absence. The search for Suzanne sets Annie on a path that drives the rest of the story.

At a friend's invitation, Annie travels to Toronto for a vacation but decides to stay behind to search for her sister. She contacts Suzanne's modelling world and starts gathering information about Suzanne's last days. This decision pulls her deeper into Suzanne's circle in the city.

Marius, a Moosonee drug dealer, escalates threats against Will and his family after noticing Annie's absence. He racks up a plan and hires associates to follow Will, aiming to pressure the family into compliance. The threat level of the conflict rises quickly.

Will reports the threats and a potential firebombing of his house, but the local police chief dismisses the complaint. He cites Will's alcoholism and lack of a license plate number as reasons to ignore the case. The decision leaves Will feeling exposed and frustrated.

In a tense confrontation, Will fires a rifle at Marius from afar and hits him in the head. After the shooting, Will escapes by plane to a remote island to hide from further retaliation. On the island, he encounters a group of Cree travelers and sets up a makeshift campsite.

Will travels back from the island and returns home to Moosonee. Lizette tells him that Marius survived the shot, albeit with brain damage, forcing the family to confront the consequences. The fragile balance of fear and retaliation remains.

The police chief arrives after Will's return and halfheartedly courts the case. He initially labels the event as a biker hit, then, just before leaving, tells Will to have better aim next time. This exchange underscores the strain between the community and the authorities.

In Toronto, Annie starts a relationship with photographer Jesse and agrees to take Suzanne's place in an upcoming photo shoot. Her ties to Suzanne's past deepen as she steps into the role on the set. The personal and professional entanglements blur the lines between memory and reality.

Annie contacts Suzanne's modelling agency and collects the last paycheque that Suzanne was owed. This concrete connection to Suzanne's former life pulls Annie further into the circle that once surrounded her sister. The moment signals a turning point in how she perceives Suzanne's disappearance.

At a club, Geeta introduces Annie to Danny, an acquaintance with a drug dealing reputation. Jesse warns Annie that Danny is involved in illegal drug activity, but Geeta continues to include him in their circle. The tension tightens as danger looms closer.

Annie reviews Suzanne's production stills and discovers that signs of drug use have been photoshopped away. She confronts Jesse about the deception and decides to leave Toronto, sensing that Suzanne's world never truly belongs to her sister. The truth shakes her to the core.

Danny corners Annie and Geeta and bluntly reveals that he killed Gus to reclaim stolen drugs. He accuses Annie of conspiring with her sister to keep the stash hidden, tightening the hold of danger around them. The confrontation marks a turning point toward more direct threats.

Danny travels to Moosonee to continue the search for Suzanne and escalates his violence against the family, throwing boiling water at Lizette and beating Will with a golf club. The threat moves from Toronto to the northern community, increasing peril for everyone.

Annie arrives with Will's rifle just in time to stop the attack. She shoots Marius and Danny, saving Will and ending the immediate threat. They carry Will to the hospital, where his life hangs in the balance as family binds together to endure the consequences.