The year is 2043, post-war in America and a military-style state is in control. The children, separated from their parents, have been taken into state-run institutions to be indoctrinated into the thinking of the regime in power, to be brainwashed into what is right and wrong, and above all to serve their masters in power.
This is a story about the Cree Nation and their struggle to preserve their identity, their culture, and their land within a futuristic dystopian regime. Familiar themes within the Indigenous communities of today still rise up in the post-war future. The lead actor, Niska, played by Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, loses her 11-year-old daughter when she is taken and placed in an Academy to be imbued with the ideological values of the new regime.
On the surface, this sci-fi story about artificial intelligence and oppressive commanders coming face to face with Indigenous peoples and their centuries-old traditions and values would seem to have possibilities. However, the translation from the written word of the story to the big screen seems to have been lost in the translation.
Directed and written by Danis Goulet, some of the basic elements of filmmaking were missing from the final product. A good well-written story is critical for most films and Danis Goulet appears to have had a good start with the script. If one were to apply a sci-fi dystopian theme to a story, one needs to either have a tremendous budget where the images, sounds, lights, costumes, etc. become major actors in the storytelling – or – the film would need strong acting that pulls at the viewer's emotions where the rawness of the contradictions are hurtful and as an audience, we start to feel the victims pain and struggle. Unfortunately, both of these elements missed their mark.
The storytelling is very predictable and linear. There were gaps in the telling leaving the action in the movie to the audience and their imagination as to what happens. I wanted to hear more about the Cree and their traditions and culture, their cunningness and strength, and their fight for survival. I also wanted to see the military might of the post-war regime and how they brainwashed and controlled their citizens and their society. This film could have been a good David and Goliath type of story-telling where we feel David’s fear and vulnerabilities and Goliath’s strength and Machiavellian power. This was not to be had.
The original story concept is an interesting one. Some of the cinematography works well and the use of drones is very effective and perhaps the most dangerous element of the movie. For all of these reasons, I give NIGHT RAIDERS 2 out of 5 tugboats.
Night Raiders is playing during Powell River Film Festival at 7 pm on Wednesday, March 9, at the Patricia Theatre.
Stephen J. Miller is a producer and creative writer in feature films and television, and past owner of repertoire movie theatres.
