Wakening and more

Wakening

2013. Canada. Directed by Danis Goulet (Cree/Metis). With Sarah Podemski. In the near future, the environment has been destroyed and society suffocates under a brutal military occupation. A lone Cree wanderer searches an urban war zone to find the ancient and dangerous Weetigo to help in the fight against the occupiers. 9 min.

Drunktown’s Finest

2014. USA. Directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo). With Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morning Star Wilson. The Navajo Nation is seen from the inside out through the eyes of three teens: an adopted Christian girl, a rebellious father-to-be, and a promiscuous transsexual. While all three are striving to escape the hardships of life on a reservation, the film portrays such a strong underlying tradition of acceptance and family that one wonders whether the outside world these characters crave is truly the answer. 95 min.