Older than America

Older than America is 2008 American suspense drama film directed by Georgina Lightning and starring Adam Beach, Wes Studi, Georgina Lightning and Bradley Cooper. The film explores the devastating personal and cultural effects of the American Indian boarding schools on the members of a Native American family in Minnesota.

Older than America
Film poster
Directed byGeorgina Lightning
Produced by
  • Christine K. Walker
Written by
Starring
Music byGeorge S. Clinton
CinematographyShane Kelly
Edited by
  • Michael Miller
  • Clayton Condit
Production
company
Tribal Alliance Productions
Distributed byTribal Alliance Productions
Release date
  • March 8, 2008 (2008-03-08) (South by Southwest Film Festival)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
Language

Plot

Rain (Georgina Lightning), is a Native American woman living on the Fond-du-Lac reservation in Minnesota. One day, after she swerves to avoid some children in the road and winds up in a car accident, she finds out some of the children she's been seeing running around the community are not living children, but the spirits of dead children. The unquiet dead are the little girls and boys who were murdered at the Indian boarding school that used to kidnap, institutionalize, and abuse children in the community.[1]

While at first she is frightened that she is seeing things no one else can see, through traditional Indigenous spirituality, Rain comes to accept her visions. She realizes her entire family, and the entire community, has been affected by this terrible secret. She realizes she is not crazy, but that the spirits of the children are speaking to her so the truth can come to light and that, maybe, the community can finally find healing.[1]

Cast
  • Adam Beach as John Goodfeather, Fond du Lac Reservation police officer and Rain's fiance
  • Georgina Lightning as Rain Many Lightnings O'Rourke, an elementary school teacher and John's fiance
  • Bradley Cooper as Luke Peterson, a U.S. government geologist investigating an earthquake that happened on Fond du Lac reservation
  • Tantoo Cardinal as Barbara "Auntie Apple" O'Rourke, Rain's aunt and Irene's sister
  • Stephen Yoakam as Father Bartoli
  • Dan Harrison as Walter Many Lightnings, Rain's uncle
  • Wes Studi as Richard Two Rivers, a reservation radio DJ
  • Glen Gould as Steve Klamath, a Native American mayoral candidate
  • Dennis Banks as Pete Goodfeather, John's father and tribal medicine man
  • Chris Mulkey as Paul Gunderson, the incumbent mayor running for re-election
  • Rose Berens as Irene Many Lightnings O'Rourke, Rain's mother and Apple's sister
  • Crystle Lightning as Diane, Rain's friend
  • Gloria Eshkibok as Mattie Moonshadow, a clerical worker at the local Indian Affairs office

Production

The film was inspired by events from Lightning's life, and the lives of her family members and community. Her father, who occasionally had violent outbursts, had been silent about his childhood. When Lightning was 18, her father committed suicide. This shocking event launched her on a quest, as she attempted to find out about her father's mysterious childhood. In the course of her research, she found herself visiting the Indian boarding school where her father, along with many First Nations children, had been institutionalized as a boy. She saw the large cemetery behind the school, with the names of so many young students on the headstones. From this disturbing experience, the concept for the film emerged.[2][1]

While the filmmaker is from Canada, the film is set in America, and was shot primarily at the Fond du Lac Indian Reservation in Minnesota. Filming took place in late 2006 on or around the Fond du Lac Reservation and Cloquet, Minnesota.[2][1]

Release
Older than America retitled as American Evil for UK DVD release

The official world premiere for Older than America took place at the 2008 SXSW Festival in the narrative feature competition.[3][4] The film screened at other festivals including the Women with Vision Festival in March 2008, Talking Stick Film Festival in June 2008[5] and Lake Arrowhead Film Festival in April 2009.[1][6]

The film had a VOD release through IFC Films on March 17, 2010.[7] The film was released in DVD format on October 12, 2010. The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc by Metrodome in the United Kingdom under the title American Evil on March 5, 2012, for which the cover art and starring credit highlights Bradley Cooper's role in the film. The film received mostly negative reviews in the UK after its DVD and Blu-ray Disc release. With most critics calling it cheaply made, and was only released in the UK due to the mass popularity of actor Bradley Cooper and his involvement in the film to boost sales.[8]

Dialogues

“There are two ways to conquer a nation: kill ‘em or take away everything that defines who they are.” Pete Goodfeather (Dennis Banks)

“Sounds like a holocaust.” Luke Peterson (Bradley Cooper)

Accolades

The film won Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (for Wes Studi) awards at the American Indian Film Festival.[9] It was named Best Dramatic Feature at the 2008 Flyway Film Festival.[10] The film received the Aloha Accolade Award from the Honolulu International Film Festival on March 8, 2009.[6]

Music

Compiled and produced by George S. Clinton.

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References
  1. Kerr, Euan (7 March 2008). "Director hopes Minnesota-made movie leads to healing". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  2. Northrup, Jim (2011). Anishinaabe Syndicated: A View from the Rez. Minnesota: Minnesota Historical Society. p. 20.
  3. Jones, Michael (4 February 2008). "SXSW announces lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  4. Variety Staff (4 February 2008). "2008 SXSW lineup". Variety. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  5. Baker, Deborah. "New Indian film Festival". Native Times. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. "USA: Native Film Bringing Home 17th Award". GALDU: Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  7. Shining Elk, Michelle R. (21 March 2010). "'Older than America,' Georgina Lightning receive nom for emerging artist award". Native American Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. "American Evil (aka Older Than America) on DVD and Blu-ray in March". Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  9. Wise, Wyndham. "Georgina Lightning". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  10. "Older Than America". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
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