Rhymes for Young Ghouls

  • 88'
  • Canada
  • 2013
The feature debut of Canadian director Jeff Barnaby, himself born on a Mi'kmaq reservation, is set against the background of the ‘residential schools’ tragedy: for almost a century the children of native Canadians were taken away from their parents, resulting in thousands of broken homes. It later emerged that many of the children at these schools were abused. Or even worse.
In Barnaby’s brutal, hallucinogenic thriller, fifteen-year-old Aila takes over her father's drug business following his arrest. But the recurring appearance of a sadistic native police officer brings the situation to a head. After she is imprisoned and her father is again arrested, Aila decides to take revenge.
Barnaby does not merely show rage and vengeance, however. The fable of the wolf that consumes its own body, told by one of the characters in the film and referring to the drug trade, makes it clear that destructive forces are not only outside the reservation.

  • 88'
  • Canada
  • 2013
Director
Jeff Barnaby
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Canada
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
88'
Medium
DCP
Languages
English, Mi'kmaq
Producers
John Christou, Aisling Chin-Yee
Production Company
Prospector Films
Sales
eOne Films International
Screenplay
Jeff Barnaby
Cinematography
Michel St Martin
Editor
Jeff Barnaby
Production Design
Elisabeth Williams
Sound Design
Joe Barrucco
Music
Jeff Barnaby, Joe Barrucco
Cast
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs
Director
Jeff Barnaby
Premiere
International premiere
Country of production
Canada
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2014
Length
88'
Medium
DCP
Languages
English, Mi'kmaq
Producers
John Christou, Aisling Chin-Yee
Production Company
Prospector Films
Sales
eOne Films International
Screenplay
Jeff Barnaby
Cinematography
Michel St Martin
Editor
Jeff Barnaby
Production Design
Elisabeth Williams
Sound Design
Joe Barrucco
Music
Jeff Barnaby, Joe Barrucco
Cast
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs