Banchi Hanuse's doc takes us to the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory to the home of Logan Red Crow, a young Siksika woman whose passion is the Indian Relay. A sport for the truly brave, the Relay's bareback riders vault from horse to horse in short, exhilarating races. Gentle and reflective, yet unshakable in her determination, Logan is a champion in the making. Besides her skill and sheer grit, she has a loving family, an elite group of horses, and a home on her ancestral lands. Those are invaluable, but this rider will need more for victory. As Hanuse follows her through one competition after another, we see courage put to the test, and also get a picture of the other factors involved in the sport-including blind circumstance. Aitamaako'tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun offers the dual pleasures of serenity and suspense: we get leisurely, lyrical immersion in rural life as well as the thrill of rooting for victory. Logan's bond with her horses is palpable, and Hanuse shows us her tender interactions with them contrasted with gripping races. The animals are beautiful in their mute strength, and the director honours them with loving, graceful images. The connections explored here are profound and lasting: those between Father and Daughter, animal and human, family and community, ancestral tradition and contemporary life. Graceful, compelling and uplifting, this is an inspirational gem. It offers, through Logan, her horses, her family and her Nation, a portrait of radiant heroism.
Content Advisory:
A young Siksika woman follows her dreams of becoming an Indian relay rider in Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun. Logan Red Crow is a teenage Siksika woman who lives on her family’s ranch in Blackfoot Territory. Logan has been racing horses since she was 15, and she is preparing for one of the most dangerous races in the world, the Indian Relay, where the rider vaults from horse to horse in short, exhilarating races. Logan has to overcome the fact that women aren’t given enough recognition in this sport, as she participates in races at the Calgary Stampede, Enoch Cree Nation, and Casper, Wyoming.
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun Synopsis
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun is a documentary directed by Banchi Hanuse about Siksika woman Logan Red Crow’s determination to participate in Indian Relay Races typically viewed as a men’s sport in Canada. The relationship between the Siksika people and horses has been cultivated for centuries. Logan is shown to have a special connection with her horses, and she trains to achieve her racing goals.
My Thoughts on Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun is a beautifully shot and inspirational film about Logan Red Crow’s non-stop determination. In addition to overcoming the gender divide in the Indian Relay, Logan also has to fight for the support of her parents, who wish for Logan to focus more on her education. However, Logan is left undeterred and Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun will have you cheering her on.