This mockumentary follows former child actor, Cody Lightning who, 25 years after his big screen debut in Smoke Signals, tries for a comeback with his self-written, self-produced sequel, Smoke Signals 2. His journey to getting the film made is a weird and wacky one that culminates in his realization of how important his support system is.
It must be a difficult thing to get started on a path that looks promising and believe this direction will make you set for life, only for that path to fall out from under you. It would not be hard to imagine that, as a child, Cody expects that this debut in a successful film will lead to more opportunities for him- a young indigenous boy- which will not only be good for him, but for his community. But when that doesn’t happen, he starts teaching acting to kids in his community, and turns to alcohol, desperately trying to hold on to the brightness of his start in the industry.
More than wanting to be famous again, the battle to create this sequel seems to also be about Cody’s need to prove himself. There is a sense of worth attached to this film, and Cody spends a lot of the mockumentary fighting for that worth- but not without the help of his best friend, Kate (played fantastically by Hannah Cheeseman).
What’s interesting to me is that the people fighting by his side for this film to get made already see the worth he’s fighting so hard to attain. It’s the reason they are able to give up a lot of their time, energy and even dreams to make his own a success. By the end of the film, Cody realizes just how far their support takes him.
But also, although he had tied his worth to this new project, we see that what Cody spent his days doing was already making in impact, even though he didn’t see it. His ‘position’ in life doesn’t change much from the beginning of the documentary to the end, but his mindset does. I find that sometimes, longing for what I don’t have, or mourning what I used to, makes me miss what’s going on right in front of me- how valuable and impactful would my life here and now be, if I saw what was good in it?
Hey Viktor! takes us on that journey of discovery and healing in the vehicle of truth that is comedy.
Hey Viktor! is in theatres on Friday, March 15th, 2024
