Cinéfest film is set in the future, but has undertones of Canada’s residential school era
A new film called 'Night Raiders' by a Métis-Cree filmmaker is coming to Sudbury’s Cinefest this weekend.
Although it is set in the future, it echoes the dark days in Canada when Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools.
The film is set in the year 2043. It follows a Cree mother and her daughter on the run to avoid being taken by authorities.
Danis Goulet, the writer and director of Night Raiders, said the film is set in dystopian North America.
“It is a very fast-paced moving kind of like future thriller, so everything is imaginary but it’s also an allegory," Goulet said. "It talks about colonial policies that were inflicted upon Indigenous people in Canada.
“It also is, I would say, hopeful and is very much about the love between the mother and child and then how that extends to the community, as well.”
Goulet said she began writing the story in 2013. But after the truth of what happened at residential schools came to light, she said it might change the context of how people view the film.
“This is a very heavy history for us all to contend with, but communities really need the truth to be acknowledged in order to heal,” said Goulet. “In the film, everything circles around the mother and the daughter and their bond and connection. It’s really about what Indigenous people had to go through under the system.”
Cinéfest officials said they are looking forward to airing the film, especially with it being so relevant to the news about residential schools and reconciliation.
“First of all, it’s a great thriller on its own as its own film, but the underlying messaging is just so strong," said Cinefest executive director Tammy Frick.
"I think it will engage youth, it will engage a lot of people that might not be really cognitive of the emotion that went along with the residential school issues.”
Night Raiders received rave reviews recently at the Toronto International Film Festival. It will be airing at Cinéfest Sudbury on Sept. 25.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.