Movies in the fall generally suck – they’re all brain-dead comedies and the crap the studios delayed and are now dumping in the slow season.  Agreed?  Agreed.

Guess what though?  When I said ‘agreed,’ I meant ‘disagreed.’  That’s right, I just flipped your mind out with some opposite talk.  And the reason for said opposite talk is that while fall is probably the best time to get pissed off at your local Cineplex, it’s also the time that amazing small-run festivals start popping up where you can catch incredible films that you might never get a chance to see elsewhere.  Opposite talk: Justified.

Such is the case with imagineNATIVE, a celebration of Indigenous film and media works from around the world, which kicked off yesterday in Toronto.  It also kicked ass yesterday in Toronto with a lively welcome reception in the afternoon featuring singing, drumming and an opening prayer, followed by the opening night screening at Bloor Cinema.

The opening film was Four Sheets to the Wind, which tells the story of teenager Cufe Smallhill (Cody Lightning – pictured left) coping with the sudden passing of his father and the impact it has on his splintered family, particularly his sister Miri (Tamara Podemski).  Quietly coping with the loss, Cufe leaves the family home in rural Oklahoma to visit Miri in Tulsa, his arrival there bringing his feelings of isolation and frustration to a head.  More than a coming of age story, first-time writer/director Sterlin Harjo has managed to address issues of community, inclusion, and a sense of self into this quiet and delicately crafted indie.  He relies heavily on his two young leads, and they do not disappoint – Tamara Podemski took home a Sundance Jury Award for Best Actor for her efforts.  Harjo has set the bar good and high for the films to follow, and Four Sheets serves as an example of both independent and Indigenous filmmaking at its best.

If you’re in the GTA, do yourself a favour and catch some of imagineNATIVE, with screenings and events running through this Sunday (full schedule here). If not check your local rep theatres for small festivals like it.  Or you can go check out the new Ben Stiller vehicle - I hear it’s pure, pungent garbagio!

Happy Thursday, October 18, 2007,
Reggie.