Miles Morrisseau
ICT
First Nations filmmaker Eva Thomas describes her latest film, “Nika and Madison,” as an “Indigenous Thelma and Louise.”
The film, an expansion of the short film, “Red Lights,” makes its world premiere on Sunday, Sept. 7, at the 50th annual Toronto International Film Festival. It tells the story of two women who go on the run after fighting back against the abuse of authority by police.
For Thomas, Anishinaabe from the Walpole Island First Nation, the film marks her solo directorial debut, though she co-directed “Aberdeen” with Ryan Cooper and has been working in the film and television industry as a writer and producer for years.
Thomas told ICT she was overjoyed when she got the news that the film was selected to premiere at TIFF, which this year features a record number of Indigenous films.
“It really is the most wonderful feeling, because it’s an acknowledgement of the work,” Thomas said. “It’s a top tier film festival, so it feels wonderful to be included and invited to that space. It’s really an opportunity to expand the audience who might be able to see this film … It was just an overwhelmingly joyful feeling.”
The Toronto International Film Festival runs this year from Sept. 4 -14, and includes eight Indigenous feature-length films and others.
The films this year include “Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband),” the latest from Oscar-nominated Inuit filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk; “Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising,” a documentary about a youth-led Indigenous occupation in the 1970s, by Métis filmmaker Shane Belcourt in collaboration with award-winning Anishinaabe journalist, Tanya Talaga; and “Blood Lines,” by actor/director Gail Maurice that follows up her debut film “Rosie” at TIFF 2022 with a tale of same-sex romance in a small Métis community.
‘Lived experience’
In taking on the role of writer and director on a full-length feature, Thomas found support in working with a cast of experienced actors she has known from past projects.
“It was special to work with a lot of the actors that I had previously worked with – Gail Maurice, Billy Merasty and Jennifer Podemski, all were in ‘Aberdeen,’ and they’re working with me again in ‘Nika and Madison,’ so that was very special,” she said.
“Ellyne Jade (Nika), who was in the short film ‘Red Lights,’ which this film is an expansion of, came to work with me on the feature and that was really special. And then working with Star Slade (Madison) who’s an upcoming Indigenous actress, was great. And so I’m really proud of the movie we made.”
Jade, Anishinaabe from Whitesand First Nation, was in the short film and now takes on the role of Nika in the feature film.
“This is Indigenous storytelling first and foremost, but it’s something that I think really needs to be shown in a way that we’ve captured in this film, that lets you connect with that human aspect of hope, of pain and fear,” Jade told ICT. “That predatory nature that exists everywhere for anybody. So I think that it really pulls together this universal feeling of safety for our people, whether Indigenous or not, is inherently important, especially when it comes to dealing with colonial powers of authority.”
The film was inspired by what was known as a “starlight tour” – a practice by some law enforcement to drop Indigenous people off on the edge of town without regard to the weather. Starlight tours were documented as early as 1976 in the province of Saskatchewan.
In “Nika and Madison,” a dangerous situation with a police officer is ended with an act of self-defense that sends the main characters on the run.
There is a moment early in the film – and you see it in the trailer – that is one of the most impactful scenes in film history, akin to the famous scene in the 1967 film “In the Heat of the Night.” when Sidney Poitier slaps a racist White man. In defense of her cousin Madison, Nika strikes down an assaulting police officer with a hockey stick.
“It was really intense,” Jade said. “That whole scene. It had to pull from a lot of experience, unfortunately, that myself and my other co-stars have had. These are lived experiences. And it was almost cathartic, in a way, because there’s always been these moments … you know, First Nation people are being killed in their community.”
Thomas takes the “Thelma and Louise” story with the added urgency of Indigenous protagonists who are pursued by the forces meant to protect them.
“These White women couldn’t go to the police,” Thomas said. “What if they were Indigenous and they really couldn’t go to the police? That was a sparking point for this idea of both the short film and then the extended expansion feature, is that place where Indigenous people meet law enforcement and how they’re supposed to be a place of protection, but often for Indigenous people, they’re not.”
The film also takes on the contrast between Indigenous folks who live in the city and those who live in the bush. Madison is urbanized and has the minimum connection to community, while her cousin Nika is a rez girl who knows how to live off the land. It is the classic city mouse and country mouse story, but as the tale progresses both women find strength in their own knowledge and experience.
Slade, who plays Madison, said she felt a connection to her character and could relate to that feeling of trying to fit into two worlds and not being sure of where you fit in.
“I think for myself, being someone who was also disconnected from community quite young and was in the foster care system,” Slade told ICT, “I didn’t really grow up feeling like I belonged anywhere, to be honest with you. I just really immediately understood that inherently about where Madison was at.”
Looking ahead
Slade said she believes Indigenous representation is important because it was something that she didn’t have when she was young. It was that experience that helped her create her character in the film.
She understands Madison’s feeling that she doesn’t belong anywhere, she said.
“The first thing that came to mind … is me being a kid and just feeling constantly in-between worlds, and not even of this world,” she said. “I just didn’t know where I belonged. And a big part of that had to do with the fact that I did not see anybody like me in the media I was consuming in books or TV or movies or whatever.
“That’s so important as well, in terms of just, not only are we here and we exist, but we have beautiful, powerful stories to tell and share with the world.”
Thomas believes that Indigenous people will be moved by the story, which is also about Indigenous resistance.
“It is a way to see Indigenous people stand up against that force and to stand up for themselves,” she said. “It is how Nika finds her power and how she stands up for herself and for Madison and how they need each other to survive.”
The journey to reclaiming and expressing Indigenous voices and Indigenous power is being reflected in the current state of Indigenous film.
“We’ve only had agency over our own stories for the last, I don’t know, decade or so, and we are just getting started,” says Thomas. “It’s very exciting and I think it’s just the beginning. I think we’re going to get some really exciting stories out of indigenous creators from here until the end of time. I think we’re just getting started.”