On film - A different look at life

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VANCOUVER-The Vancouver Queer Film Festival picked up an Indigenous film, which was screened on Aug. 18 at Robson Square. This dramatic feature length film uses the memories, dreams, and desires of Johnny Greyeyes' (an Aboriginal lesbian woman) and those of her family to express experiences of addiction, abuse and prison.

The story takes place during Johnny's last year in Kingston, Ont.'s maximum-security prison for women. In essence, the film plays with universal themes: the importance of family, identity and the need to belong, to have a place to call home.

The film has a very strong cast of Aboriginal actors, including Gail Maurice (Giant Mine, The Rez, A Year Whose Days Are Long.) a Cree speaking Metis from Saskatchewan who plays Greyeyes, and Columpa C. Bobb (North of 60, The Rez, Native Daughter, Eagle Run) plays Lana. Other actors include, Johnathon Fisher, Gloria May Eskibok, Tamara Podemski, Herbie Barnes, Vince Manitowabi, Marion de Vries, Sean Wayne, Geoffrey Daybutch, Peatquoam Johnny, and Ron E. Cook. Lee Maracle, a Salish/Metis woman, was the script editor.

Jorge Manzano is the producer, screenwriter and director. The film took five years to complete and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2000.