Top 10 indigenous films of all time

When agreeing to this assignment I understood that the making of such a list would necessitate leaving films and perhaps more importantly, filmmakers, that I love off the list, but knowing that hasnot made iteasier.

Here are 10 (technically 11, but whatever) amazingfilms that are a great starting point for a journey into indigenous cinemahistory, but it is, of course far from complete.

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Indigenous cinema, at least in itscontemporary form, is only 40 years old, and the fact that there are films to beleft off a list like this is testament to its rapid development and to the artists whohave taken up the camera to tell our stories.

1.Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner(Canada)

The first Inuktitut language feature is also the most important film in Canadian history, bringing epic film making to a Northern legend. It won Official Selection at the 2001 Cannes International Film Festival, and remains the highest grossing indigenous film in Canadian history.

2.Bastion Point Day 507/Incident at Restigouche (New Zealand/Canada)

These two activist documentaries were often paired on the festival circuit and are among the most important films in contemporary indigenous cinema. Directors Merata Mita and Alanis Obomsawin seemingly willed indigenous cinema into life with these two endlessly fascinating historical documents.

3.Bedevil (Australia)

Tracey Moffats dreamscape/ghost story began indigenous cinemas move away from traditional cinematic narrative structures and remains an under seen masterpiece.

4.The Dead Lands (New Zealand)

5.Four Sheets to the Wind (U.S)

6.Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (Canada)

7.Once Were Warriors (New Zealand)

8.Rhymes for Young Ghouls (Canada)

Jeff Barnabys debut feature brings the anger to indigenous cinema, a clarion call for both the cinematic community and the indigenous community. A director to watch for years to come.

• Why everyone Canadian should watch rhymes for young ghouls

9.Samson and Delilah (Australia)

10.Smoke Signals (U.S)

Honourable mentions:

So while I believe these films are allamazing, there are more not listed hereTen Canoes, Charlies Country, Patu!,Barking Water, Trudell, BeforeTomorrow, Mohawk Girls and more every year, inlarge part thanks to the festivals like ImagineNative.

This article was initially published inMuskrat Magazine. It was edited and republished withpermission.

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