Indian Horse tells the story of a boy who’s taken away from his family and thrown into a residential school. He experiences unimaginable horrors in his early years and it’s not until he finds the game of hockey that his life starts to change.
Directed by Stephen Campanelli Indian Horse is an honest look at a dark time in Canadian history. With dialogue in Ojibwe and English it certainly gives us incredible insight into the indigenous people’s struggle, specifically over the last 100 years. At the start it struggles to know what film it wants to be and the tone shifts every few minutes. Once Saul arrives at the residential school it proceeds to find its footing and tell a deeply moving and emotional story. Buoyed by great performances (especially by the older Saul Ajuawak Kapashesit) and beautiful shots of Canadian nature, Indian Horse is well worth the journey. With the budget it had, the film has to be commended and it’s a must watch for people wanting to learn more about indigenous history in Canada.
Rating: 7/10
Public Screenings: September 15th 8:30PM, September 16th 8:30PM