Wildhood: a Dantean journey with a Mi’kmaw protagonist
Wildhood, from First Nations writer/director Bretten Hannam, got its start three years ago as the 12-minute short Wildfire, about a Mi’kmaw boy who runs away from his abusive father. I haven’t seen the earlier film, but this one did feel like a short story trying to expand into the space of a novel. It’s episodic, straightforward, and narratively a bit slight.
None of which makes it bad, mind you. This is a moving tale about finding one’s culture, one’s family and one’s place in the world. It’s got humour and heart to spare.
Phillip Lewitski stars as Link, whose father (Joel Thomas Hynes) has little patience for the young man, and even less for the idea that the kid might be gay. When Link learns that his mother may still be alive, he takes his younger half-brother Travis (Avery Winters-anthony) on an impromptu road trip to find her.
They soon run into Pasmay (Joshua Odjick), roughly the same age as Link and also estranged from his parents, but with a deeper appreciation of Mi’kmaw culture. He speaks the language, and knows how to do traditional dances. Link is fascinated on both counts, but also finds himself falling for the other boy.
Pasmay offers himself as a guide to Link’s Dantean journey, which will take him through such circles of hell as well-meaning white people, substance abuse issues and intolerance for those who identify as Two Spirit.
But Hannam includes some moments of joy and surprise, like the rough-looking First Nations guy who turns out to be a French-trained pastry chef. Then there’s the wise elder who helps them in their travels.
“I saw you coming,” she tells Link.
Trying to match her First Nations demeanour, he asks: “Did you have a dream or something?” She shakes her head. “No. But my driveway is very long.”
Wildhood opened in Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver on March 11, with other cities to follow.