14-24 nov 2024
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Sugarcane

Sugarcane

Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
United States, Canada
2024
107 min
Dutch Premiere
Best of Fests
Synopsis

A weathered Madonna and child look out over the landscape of the Sugarcane Reserve near Williams Lake, Canada. This was the site of St. Joseph’s Mission, one of the Catholic boarding schools where the children of indigenous people were re-educated to become ‘good’ North American citizens. Unmarked graves, discovered in 2021, were the first evidence of a long-hidden history of sexual and physical abuse and the disappearance of babies and children. A national investigation ensued.

As archive staff sift through documents and comb the school grounds, co-director Julian Brave NoiseCat gently tries to persuade his father, who was born in the boarding school, to talk. Other victims also confront their pasts. The film gradually exposes the role of the Catholic Church in a colonized society.

With the search for the truth comes the search for acknowledgement. “Saying sorry is a start,” says one of the central figures. “Then there has to be action.” Sugarcane made an impression at various festivals, and has won awards including the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at Sundance.

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Credits
107 min
color
DCP
Spoken languages: English
Director
    Julian Brave NoiseCat,
    Emily Kassie
    Julian Brave NoiseCat,
    Emily Kassie
Production
    Emily Kassie,
    Kellen Quinn
    Emily Kassie,
    Kellen Quinn
Executive producer
    Carolyn Bernstein,
    Bill Way,
    Elliott Whitton,
    Jenny Raskin,
    Geralyn White Dreyfous,
    Tegan Acton,
    Emma Pompetti,
    Grace Lay,
    Sumalee Montano,
    Sabrina Merage Naim,
    Douglas Choi,
    Adam Lewis,
    Melony Lewis,
    Meadow Fund,
    JanaLee Cherneski,
    Ian Desai,
    David J. Cornfield,
    Linda A. Cornfield,
    Maida Lynn,
    Robina Riccitello,
    Nina Fialkow,
    David Fialkow
    Carolyn Bernstein,
    Bill Way,
    Elliott Whitton,
    Jenny Raskin,
    Geralyn White Dreyfous,
    Tegan Acton,
    Emma Pompetti,
    Grace Lay,
    Sumalee Montano,
    Sabrina Merage Naim,
    Douglas Choi,
    Adam Lewis,
    Melony Lewis,
    Meadow Fund,
    JanaLee Cherneski,
    Ian Desai,
    David J. Cornfield,
    Linda A. Cornfield,
    Maida Lynn,
    Robina Riccitello,
    Nina Fialkow,
    David Fialkow
Cinematography
    Christopher LaMarca,
    Emily Kassie
    Christopher LaMarca,
    Emily Kassie
Editing
    Maya Daisy Hawke,
    Nathan Punwar
    Maya Daisy Hawke,
    Nathan Punwar
Sound
    Andrea Bella
    Andrea Bella
Music
    Mali Obomsawin
    Mali Obomsawin
Involved TV Channel
    Tim Horsburgh
    Tim Horsburgh
World Sales
    Dogwoof Ltd
    Dogwoof Ltd
Screening copy
    Dogwoof Ltd
    Dogwoof Ltd

Stills

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