lisahall-60505 Reviews

Hold the Dark (2018)

Excellent acting, poor attempt at Indigenous authenticity

[7/10 · 16 September 2018]

After my screening of Hold The Dark, I went home and bought the book and read the book because I was so taken into this incredible and twisted world and I felt like I needed a little bit more context. Which I got and the book is amazing. Even though there are these acts of brutal violence that catch you off guard, the film has a meditative quality - the scenery and the sound design and the music is enticing. There's an undercurrent of menace and anticipation that would seemingly counter that but somehow they work. I loved the performances of Jeffrey Wright and Alexander Skarsgård. They play off each other beautifully. Alexander Skarsgård has locked down the cold and calculated nature of Vernon Slone and you don't know what he will do, he is so cold and affectless. It's brilliant. I have a few problems with the film with respect to the Indigenous elements. Firstly, that they didn't cast Yup'ik characters with Yup'ik or Inuit actors. They cast Indigenous actors but not actors who are Indigenous to this area of Alaska. Secondly, I personally really enjoy throat singing so I was happy to hear it in the film, but they used it over the menacing parts to underscore the evil and violence which is just incredibly problematic. I feel like this film could have been great if they had a Yup'ik advisor in the production meetings. Indigenous people aren't interchangeable. When you have Indigenous characters who play vital roles in the story, I think the crew should respect the distinct culture of the people they are portraying.

Edge of the Knife (2018)

Beautiful love letter to the Haida language and culture

[10/10 · 14 September 2018]

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.