SGaawaay K'uuna (Edge of the Night) is the first feature film entirely in the Haida language. The filmmakers hope to use the film as an educational tool to encourage fluency - there are currently less than 25 fluent Haida speakers in the world. Crafted from a popular story, SGaawaay K'uuna is set in 19th century Haida Gwaii. Adiits'ii is charming and carefree and his recklessness causes a horrific tragedy. Tormented by what he has done, evil spirits are able to enter his body and transform him into Gaagiixid, a devouring supernatural being.
From the depictions of everyday, pre-colonial life to Adiits'ii's horrifying transformation and his family's generosity and forgiveness, this film takes an oral history and makes it into a beautiful, multifaceted film. If you don't get a chance to catch it at TIFF, SGaawaay K'uuna is the closing film for next month's imagineNATIVE film festival. I guarantee this film will be in Canada's Top Ten in January. It's so important. Please watch it.
From the depictions of everyday, pre-colonial life to Adiits'ii's horrifying transformation and his family's generosity and forgiveness, this film takes an oral history and makes it into a beautiful, multifaceted film. If you don't get a chance to catch it at TIFF, SGaawaay K'uuna is the closing film for next month's imagineNATIVE film festival. I guarantee this film will be in Canada's Top Ten in January. It's so important. Please watch it.