Directed by Maria Munro, Sisters is a deeply personal short film that blends memoir and mystery. The story follows Munro as she begins to question her past after a sudden memory suggests she may have a sister she’s never met, setting her on a journey to uncover long-buried family secrets.
During the quiet isolation of the 2020 pandemic, Maria, a Venezuelan-born filmmaker, experiences a moment of clarity while meditating. A still voice repeatedly tells her, “You have a sister,” and with no memory of having a sister, Maria is led to question her family’s past. After trying to reach her sister, whom she already knows, without success, Maria approaches her brother, Gaston, who recalls overhearing their parents discussing a secret daughter from their father’s previous relationship. Warned not to mention it to their mother, Maria nonetheless decides to investigate further.
Her journey into the past reveals the emotional distance she always felt from her siblings while growing up in separate boarding schools. As she searches for the truth, she speaks with a trusted family friend, Mina, who provides a crucial clue: the sister’s name is Cecilia, and she was born before her parents were married. The next day, thanks to Mina, Maria receives a phone call that could finally lead her to the sister she never knew she had.
Filmmaker Maria Munro sorts through vintage photos and records in a personal search for truth, as seen in her short film Sisters.
“…a sudden memory suggests she may have a sister she’s never met…”
Sisters is a video essay of Maria’s reflections on family and sisterhood. The story unfolds like an onion, as Maria reflects on her somewhat estranged relationship with her three siblings. Growing up in separate boarding schools, they never spent meaningful time together.
We then gain insight into the circumstances surrounding Cecilia’s birth and discover secrets about her father. Then there is the first of many meetings between Maria and Cecilia. I’ve never heard of Maria Munro, but her musings on family are universal, no matter where you live in the world. Sisters is like a scrapbook of memories. Munro doesn’t stick to one medium to tell her story; she uses a combination of photos, drawings, and occasional film or video clips. All coming together to tell a sweet story of family, highlighting familial connections regardless of how long you’ve known one another.
Sisters is a heartfelt video essay that unpacks the complexities of family as Maria revisits her childhood and unravels long-held family secrets. The film becomes a meditation on the bonds between siblings, whether lifelong or newly discovered. In the end, Sisters reminds us that the search for connection is always worth pursuing.
"…blends memoir and mystery."
