• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Film
  • DVD
  • Editorial
  • About ScreenFish

ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • News
  • OtherFish
  • Podcast
  • Give

SXSW

Wildhood: Reassembling the Pieces of the Heart

March 14, 2022 by Steve Norton Leave a Comment

Beginning in an east-coast trailer park, Wildhood tells the story of Link (Phillip Lewitski), an angry teen who lives with his abusive white father (Joel Thomas Hynes) and his younger-half brother (Travis (Avery Winters-Anthony). Believing that his mother has died years ago, Link struggles to make it through the day. However, when he discovers that his Mi’kmaw mother may still be alive, he and Travis break out of the grip of their father and escape to find her. On the run from their father, they meet a Two-Spirit Mi’kmaw teenager Pasmay (Joshua Odjick), who offers to give them a lift. As they venture forward together, the chemistry between Link and Pasmay begins to develop, creating an undeniable attraction that could change them forever.

Written and directed by Bretten Hannam, Wildhood is a coming-of-age drama that explores the parts of our lives that are missing and the search to put them back together. Though the film functions as a road movie, Hannam beautifully weaves his themes together like a puzzle, with each piece shedding light on the next. Despite its difficult themes and broken characters, there’s a certain sense of peace that moves within the film. Even though the world feels unsafe, Hannam’s script never lets us feel like his characters are in any danger. They are on a trip towards self-acceptance and we are journeying with them.

Living with his brother and his abusive father, Link has lost all sense of his identity. To him, the world is very small. Fueled by his own inner rage, his drive to survive has hardened his heart to everyone except his younger brother. However, upon the discovery that his mother is alive, a piece of him comes alive as well and sets up a journey into his soul. From his First Nations heritage to his sexuality to his role in the family, Link gradually begins to flush out a deeper understanding of who he is. While his life may have been broken by the lies of his father, every new breakthrough helps him begin to reconnect with his story and give him a greater sense of peace.

As he continues on his journey, Wildhood does a wonderful job of disseminating the shame that he feels about his heritage, especially as it relates to his First Nations background. Dying his hair blond and refusing to learn the language of his people, Link does not wish to be associated with the Mi’kmaw population. Soon though, his hardened shell begins to melt away as he meets those who own their heritage with pride. (In fact, one youth even demands that he dye his hair to its proper colour so that he stops hiding from who he is.) 

What’s more, the same is also true in regards to the shame that he feels about his sexuality. Although there’s an undeniable attraction between himself and Pasmay, Link remains hesitant. Plagued by the toxic masculinity of his father—the only parent he has known—he struggles to allow himself to connect with that portion of his heart.

As he begins to break down the stereotypes that have plagued him, so too does he also reframe his perspective. In many ways, while the film is driven by the quest for his mother, whether or not he finds her is almost irrelevant. Yes, it would provide a key building block for his past but the journey inward has been equally valuable either way. 

Incidentally, it’s also worth noting that, while the emphasis may be on Link, each character is on a journey of their own throughout the film as well. For all three adventurers, this trek into the wild is an opportunity for them to heal from the hurts that have scarred them. With grace and acceptance, Hannam gives hope to their spirits by drawing them out together. All of their lives are a complex mix of brokenness and hurt, yet also they can be celebrated with hope. For Link, there’s a journey of the soul that he must endure to understand who we are and who we want to be.

Because, like Link, everyone deserves a chance to put the pieces back together.

Wildhood is available in theatres beginning Friday, March 11th, 2022.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Film Festivals, Reviews Tagged With: Bretten Hannam, Joel Thomas Hynes, Joshua Odjick, Mi'kmaw, Phillip Lewitski, SXSW, Wildhood

@SXSW – See You Then

March 16, 2021 by Darrel Manson Leave a Comment

Reuniting with an old friend can be a wonderful time as you catch up on each other’s lives. But it can also be stressful when there are unaddressed issues from years before. All that is multiplied when it is not just an old friend, but a former lover. In Mari Walker’s film See You Then, making its debut at SXSW, this becomes even more complicated.

Fifteen years after suddenly leaving Naomi (Lynn Chen), Kris (Pooya Mohseni) has asked her to meet for dinner. At first, they just kind of catch up on what has been going on in their lives. The biggest thing is that this is the first time they’ve met since Kris transitioned to a woman. That, obviously, brings a very different context to their reunion. The dinner turns into a peripatetic night that moves from subject to subject as the two go from place to place.

From Kris we learn about the struggle that has defined her life, not just her life as a man, but the issues that she faced in her transition. At one point she says that her life only really began fourteen years ago. (A comment that is somewhat harsh in Naomi’s ears.) Even though she is now a woman, she feels disappointed at not being able to be a mother. She has always wanted to have a biological child.

Naomi, while being accepting and supporting, also harbors some serious pain and resentment over the way their relationship ended, and because she only learned about Kris’s transition from a third party. As the night progresses, the two women move back and forth between connection and confrontation. There are painful words that are spoken by each. And when the great reveal comes, it is something that brings pain that is soul-deep.

The film is directed by a trans woman as well is starring a trans woman. As I read the press notes, it is clear that they are bringing bits of themselves into the film. As such, it gives us some small insight into what it means to live a transgendered life. It is certainly not a simple concept to portray in a film. See You Then seeks to give us an emotive introduction to some of the many aspects of being transgendered. For me, the key line is spoken by Kris after Naomi has talked about her final performance art piece that was many years ago. Kris, knowing that Naomi should be doing more tells her not to “deny yourself something that you need.” That clearly seems to be a major theme in this reunion between Kris and Naomi. They each have things they need—not just in life, but from each other. So it is for all of us—whether cis, trans, gay, or queer.

Photos courtesy of Vanishing Angle.

Filed Under: Film, Film Festivals, Reviews Tagged With: LGBTQ+, SXSW, transgender

3.24 Cruising with BABY DRIVER

July 10, 2017 by Steve Norton 2 Comments

This week, author Jeffrey Overstreet rolls in to talk with Steve about BABY DRIVER, Edgar Wright’s hit heist film!  This film has it all — action, romance and a fantastic playlist — but is there more to the story?  In a fun conversation, they talk about defining ourselves and what it means to be ‘good’.  Plus, the guys give their surprises of the year (so far) and most anticipated titles to come!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

3.24 Baby Driver

A special thanks to Jeffrey for coming on the show!

Filed Under: Film, Podcast Tagged With: action movie, Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver, car chase, Edgar Wright, indie film, Jamie Foxx, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, SXSW

Primary Sidebar

THE SF NEWS

Get a special look, just for you.

sf podcast

Hot Off the Press

  • Sharp Stick: Sex and Sensibility
  • Syndrome K – Life Saving Disease
  • Emily the Criminal: Dancing with our Dark Side
  • Ainbo: Spirit of the Rainforest – Investing in Spirit
  • Fall: Despite Dizzying Heights, Fall Still Stands
Find tickets and showtimes on Fandango.

where faith and film are intertwined

film and television carry stories which remind us of the stories God has woven since the beginning of time. come with us on a journey to see where faith and film are intertwined.

Footer

ScreenFish Articles

Sharp Stick: Sex and Sensibility

Syndrome K – Life Saving Disease

  • About ScreenFish
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 · ScreenFish.net · Built by Aaron Lee

 

Loading Comments...