Drunktown's Finest

I found DRUNKTOWNS FINEST DVD at the Window Rock flea market and purchased it from Ms. Freeland. I was impressed by the involvement of Robert Redford as the executive producer. I didn't know what to expect and asked Ms. Freeland if this was another genre type of movie about modern Navajos, e.g. TURQUOISE ROSE. After watching the opening of DF movie I found it to be what I expected. What the movie doesn't touch on is the violence and death experienced by young Navajo transgender male and/or females. There are many unsolved beatings and murders of transgender male/females on the Navajo rez and in the border towns and it seems like no one cares to follow up. In closing, it's not your average genre type of movie about modern Navajos.

"Drunktown's Finest" is a film that just recently debuted at Sundance and will soon have a wider release. It's by a new director, Sydney Freeland, and it's an amazing debut effort--mostly because the emphasis is on the acting! It seems that the executive producer, Robert Redford, made an excellent choice in having Freeland helm this story.

The film is set on a Navajo reservation. Although Ms. Freeland's biography on IMDb is scant, I did some research and found out that she actually grew up on one of these reservations herself and that is why this story seems so personal and unlike any other film I've seen on Native Americans. "Drunktown's Finest" consists of a story about three people who are struggling with their identity and their stories eventually intertwine during the course of the film.

There is a young lady who has grown up off the reservation, as she was adopted at a young age and was brought up on the other side of the country by white parents. She is struggling to reconcile her adoptive parents religion and values with her own biology and a need to learn more about her people. Another is a very angry and self- destructive young man who plans on joining the military as his way off the reservation and to a more stable life. The last is the most unusual, as it's about someone who is transgender and leads a very promiscuous and directionless life. It's also unusual because the filmmakers were actually able to find an actual transgender Navajo (Carmen Moore) to act this part.

The film is very unusual in that it manages to tell a compelling story because the focus is on the acting and the characters. Freeland does an excellent job of allowing these actors to act and not embellish the tale with special effects, wild plot devices and the like. It's all about the acting in this film. It's also important that it really doesn't matter much what you think about LGBT issues, American Indian culture or any of the issues brought up in this film. Sure I didn't like or necessarily agree with everything I saw in the film but the movie did NOT attempt to preach at the audience or give you the answers. Some might dislike this vagueness as well as the ending where everything isn't tied up neatly into a nice little package. I see it as just an opportunity to expose you to another way of life and a people who are most likely different from the people in your own life. This is a story that is never dull and I really look forward to seeing more from these folks.

Sydney Freeland has written and directed an incredible film in Drunktown's Finest. Set in a small native American town, Freeland carefully and cinematically weaves viewers in and out of the lives of three young people who are all struggling with the confinement of small town life in a Native American territory.

While the backdrop of the film might be decidedly niche given its Native American setting, the message to Drunktown's Finest is ultimately broad and very relatable to anyone who has ever undergone the struggle of trying to break free from the roots of a small town in order to find a better life for their family or find out who they really are. On the flip side, the film also relates to that person who is searching for his or her roots and wanting to know where they came from.

The writing and directing show us that Sydney Freeland is a true emerging talent. Her cinematic eye combined with her delicate and moving story telling ability draws you into the film from the first frame and never lets you go!

The character development is spot on and the acting is superb from the three lead characters right down to those who deliver just a single line. All in all, Drunktown's Finest is a film that grabs your heart, takes you on a fascinating ride and ultimately leaves you simply feeling good about being alive. How often can we say that after leaving the theater these days? If you like a good movie that stays with you long after the film is over....then you will LOVE Drunktown's Finest.

"Drunktown's Finest" follows the intertwining lives of three young Navajos over the course of three or four days. Nizhoni (MorningStar Angeline), adopted as a child by a white couple and plagued by bad dreams, is trying to find her biological family; 'Sick Boy' (not his given name) is an irresponsible father-to-be who talks the talk about being a provider - he's even enlisted in the army - but who just can't seem to stop getting drunk, smoking weed or snogging unsuitable women at parties; and trans-gender Felixia (Carmen Moore) makes her living as a prostitute but dreams of the big time via a 'Women of the Navajo' calendar.

Although Native American beliefs and rituals are present in the film - at its centre is a young girl's womanhood ceremony - it wears its mysticism lightly, concentrating instead on aspects of life non-Indians can understand. There's also very little, if any, comment about the wrongs done by the white man to the Native American: such sentiments may be justified, but they can come across as one-sided and preachy when heard several times over.

Of the three leads, acting honours go to Jeremiah Bitsui as Sick Boy; he creates a believable, likable yet infuriating character. Angeline's performance may be hampered by her TV movie-like plot; while Moore's limp delivery of her lines may be a good portrayal of queeniness but, on the other hand, may indicate the actress just wasn't that interested in the material. Many of the supporting actors, I'm afraid, need to go back to drama school - too many sound like they're merely reciting their lines, rather than actually *saying* them.

The film has its flaws: I've already mentioned the melodramatic nature of Nizhoni's plot. Then there's the bits where two young characters facing important decisions are told homilies by older, wiser, heads: not so much a signpost as a great big flashing neon sign as to the choices they will make. But overall I really enjoyed this, and not just for the novelty of seeing a film featuring contemporary Native American characters; it's actually pretty engrossing.

Drunktown's Finest is grounded with wisdom, great heart and understanding. Director Freeland has done a remarkable job of creating a film that feels genuine. The actors carry honest portrayals throughout. I was made to feel uncomfortable in some instances,and for good reason. I learned something. The break-away from earth-bound tradition in native culture has consequences. The Medicine Man and his wife carry the universe in the palm of their hand. "A strong warrior knows when to retreat" cautions the Medicine Man. Retreating from the materialistic, profit-driven world that engulfs them, has its own strength, balance and insights. Don't miss this film.