A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes (2001)

A National Film Board of Canada production

A Sigh and a Wish tells the story of pioneer folklorist Helen Creighton and of the enduring appeal of her remarkable collections of song and story. Creighton helped define Maritime culture as we know it. Thanks to her, folk songs moved out of the kitchens and the fishing boats and into the mainstream. Top contemporary Maritime musicians - talents like Mary Jane Lamond and Lennie Gallant - describe how deeply they have been influenced by Creighton. For 60 years, Creighton sought out ghost stories, superstitions and tales of buried treasure, as well as songs handed down from generation to generation: fishing songs, work songs, love songs. Timeless songs. A Sigh and a Wish is a moving tribute to the genius of a self-taught folklorist and to the continuing strength of the deep oral traditions she helped preserve. But it also raises important questions. Does Creighton's collection truly reflect Maritime culture, or is it tinged by her own upper-middle-class assumptions?

Director: Donna Davies
Runtime: 74 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Mary Jane Lamond
Cinematography: Kent Nason
Editing: Kimberlee McTaggart
Production: ONF | NFB
Country: Canada
Language: English
Original Language: en

Keywords

woman director

More Films by Director: Donna Davies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes about?
A Sigh and a Wish tells the story of pioneer folklorist Helen Creighton and of the enduring appeal of her remarkable collections of song and story. Creighton helped define Maritime culture as we know it. Thanks to her, folk songs moved out of the kitchens and the fishing boats and into the mainstream. Top contemporary Maritime musicians - talents like Mary Jane Lamond and Lennie Gallant - describe how deeply they have been influenced by Creighton. For 60 years, Creighton sought out ghost stories, superstitions and tales of buried treasure, as well as songs handed down from generation to generation: fishing songs, work songs, love songs. Timeless songs. A Sigh and a Wish is a moving tribute to the genius of a self-taught folklorist and to the continuing strength of the deep oral traditions she helped preserve. But it also raises important questions. Does Creighton's collection truly reflect Maritime culture, or is it tinged by her own upper-middle-class assumptions?
Who directed A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes?
A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes was directed by Donna Davies.
Who stars in A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes?
A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes stars Odile Boyd, Clary Croft, Teresa Doyle, Lennie Gallant, Mary Jane Lamond, Ashley MacIsaac.
How long is A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes?
A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes has a runtime of 1h 14m (74 minutes).
Where was A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes produced?
A Sigh and a Wish: Helen Creighton's Maritimes was produced in Canada.