Indian Horse (2018)

It would not be hard to argue that colonialism, and the residential school system specifically, is Canada's worst shame. Canada hasn't reckoned with this history deeply as of yet and its effects remain so devastating. Indian Horse is the first widely released film to begin to tackle this horror and it is a triumph not just for the attempt but for such an incredible execution.

Based on the novel by Richard Wagamese, Indian Horse tells the story of Saul, a residential school survivor who becomes a hockey player. The film doesn't take the inspirational track and instead digs deep into the horrors that abounded through the abduction of children from their families, the abuse that permeated the schools, and the widespread racism of Canadian settler culture. Yes Saul finds his salvation in his skill and love for hockey, but that doesn't save him. Indian Horse forces Saul and the audience to struggle with all that happened to him before he can find his redemption, a redemption that doesn't come from pulling up his own bootstraps or becoming a successful athlete. All of that is peripheral. Saul's salvation comes when he can face the demons that he faced.

The film's brilliant structure not only gives us the full impact of Saul's journey but also helps us to see how the pain is layered on top of itself, hiding worse horrors. The film isn't shy about its subject. Much of the movie is intense. But it is in the powerful performances and director Campanelli's sure hand, that Indian Horse carries us through that struggle because like Saul, all Canadians need to face the true horrors of this atrocity before healing can begin to happen. No amount of hockey or distraction can cover it up.

Indian Horse
Starring: Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck, Ajuawak Kapashesi, Michiel Huisman, Martin Donovan
Director: Stephen Campanelli
Writer: Dennis Foon