North of Normal

North of Normal is a 2022 Canadian drama directed by Carly Stone and based on the 2014 memoir by Cea Sunrise Person. The story follows Cea, a teenage girl raised in the Canadian wilderness by her free-spirited, hippie mother, as she struggles to adapt to city life and find her own path after an unconventional childhood. Exploring themes of identity, resilience, and belonging, the film portrays Cea’s journey to redefine what “normal” means as she seeks balance between independence and stability.

Filmed in 2021 across Northern Ontario, including locations in Sudbury, North Bay, and Mattawa, the production captures the region’s rugged beauty and authenticity. The screenplay by Alexandra Weir was recognized with a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards.

This film is part of 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝: 𝘼 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, celebrating the rich legacy of filmmaking in and around North Bay on Friday, November 14th, featuring North of Normal along with four other films shot locally over the past decades. Learn more about the full lineup →