The Family of the Forest () is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Laura Rietveld and released in 2022.Silvia Galipeau, "Une famille dans la forêt". La Presse, April 7, 2022. The film profiles Gérard Mathar and Catherine Jacob, a couple from Belgium who have moved to Canada to live off the land on a 22-acre property in the Gaspé Peninsula region of Quebec, where they run their own business selling foraged food products.Delphine Belzile, "‘The Family of the Forest’: A film about modernity and self-sufficiency". The Link, April 10, 2022.
Distribution The film premiered on March 31, 2022, at the Vues sur mer film festival in Gaspé, before going into commercial release on April 8.
It was later screened at other Canadian film festivals, including the Windsor International Film Festival,Pat Mullen, "Family of the Forest Review: Roots that Hold". Point of View, October 30, 2022. the Kingston Canadian Film Festival,Justine Smith, "The Kingston Film Festival proves Canadian cinema no longer has anything to apologize for". Cult MTL, March 16, 2023. and the Oakville Festivals of Film and Art.Tyler Collins, "Program revealed for the 2023 Oakville Film Festival". Oakville News, April 25, 2023.
It received its television premiere in 2025, being added to Ici TOU.TV in Canada and broadcast on Arte in Europe.Pauline Demange-Dilasser, "“La Famille de la forêt”, sur Arte.tv : portrait délicat d’un famille qui vit en autarcie en Gaspésie". Télérama, April 13, 2025.
Critical response Pat Mullen of Point of View wrote that "as family portraits go, Family of the Forest will especially appeal to fans of the festival circuit hit All the Time in the World. This film offers a companion of sorts to Suzanne Crocker's account of her family's one-year experiment living off-grid up north. Both films remind audiences of the deep connection to be had with nature and the freedom of escaping the hustle of urban life. However, Family of the Forest also asks if such life truly is an escape if it requires 24/7 commitment. There's a difference between a year-long trial of unplugging and a complete lifestyle commitment."
Awards The film was the winner of the People's Choice Award at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival.Peter Hendra, "Film fest's award winners announced". Kingston Whig-Standard, March 7, 2023.
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