Catherine'sKindergarten - A Mother's Journey

2019 • 1h 14m • Documentary

Loading...
Watch Now Rental

Brought to you by

SANE Australia

Availability

Available until Dec 31, 2026

Available Worldwide

Brought to you by

SANE Australia

Share with friends

Share with friends

Share with friends

About the film

Catherine’s Kindergarten is a visually stunning and deeply moving story about a mother climbing a mountain in Western Nepal to open a kindergarten in memory of her daughter.  This award-winning documentary is not only about grief and loss, but about resilience, gratitude, and the fierce beauty of the human spirit. Universal in its reach, it speaks to anyone who has faced adversity and discovered that even in heartbreak, joy can still rise.

We have chosen to support the work of SANE Australia who support people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and will be paying all proceeds directly to SANE.

Director

Kaye Cleave, James Daggett

Producer

Kaye Cleave

Crew

Sara Bolder, James Daggett, Jade Robinson, James Daggett, Charlie Wang, André Barros, Rosemary Wanganeen, Carol Harada, Christopher Delorenzo, Anna Malapira

Awards & recognition

IndieFEST Film Awards

Award of Merit

LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival

Excellence

Seattle Film Festival

Official Selection

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival

Official Selection

New York International Film Festival

Finalist

Malta Film Festival

Best Drama Feature

Impact Doc Awards

Award of Merit

Sunscreen Film Festival

Official Selection

Lake Travis Film Festival

Semi-Finalist

Kansas City International Filmfest

Official Selection

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival

Official Selection

Women's Voices Now Film Festival

Official Selection

Golden State Film Festival

Official Selection

Hong Kong Indie Film Festival

Official Selection

Docs Without Borders Film Festival

Best of Show

Vancouver Film Festival

Finalist

Five Continents International Film Festival

Award Winner

San Francisco Documentary Film Festival

Official Selection

What people are saying

Catherine’s Kindergarten is a tender and beautiful film that moves beyond one mothers’s grief to another world entirely. The impact that Kaye’s decision to establish a kindergarten in Nepal as Catherine’s legacy provides inspiration to others who are confronted by the death of a loved one.

Roger S.

Audience Member

Catherine’s Kindergarten is a visually beautiful film and Kaye’s honesty is deeply moving. I can’t imagine anyone not being touched by her story. One of the many positives that come from watching the film, is having a better understanding of grief and loss. It also allows for conversations that are much needed around this topic. Grief is such a teacher, but there’s still so much silence around it.

Natalie P.

Audience Member

Catherine’s Kindergarten is one of the most heartwarming and powerful documentaries I’ve ever seen. I not only laughed and cried, I was motivated by Kaye’s resilience in the face of a momentous tragedy. Her honesty is refreshing and her courage up-lifting. She makes me want to be a better person.

Scott M.

Audience Member

One of the strengths of the documentary, Catherine’s Kindergarten, is that it’s a universal story about love, loss and resilience of the human spirit. Whatever age you are, I promise it will speak to you in some way. My friends and I are only in our twenties, yet seeing how Kaye coped with the loss of her daughter, makes us realize we can cope with future hardships in our lives.

Sarah B.

Audience Member

Gallery

Series image 1
Series image 2
Series image 3
Series image 4
Series image 5
Series image 6
Series image 7
Series image 8
Series image 9
Series image 10