'kwêskosîw (She Whistles)' Review: An Ode To The Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women | Toronto After Dark 2021

As the film industry and film-goers continue to appreciate seeing diverse stories and faces on screens, we're seeing an uptick and demand for Indigenous filmmakers to tell their stories, their way. A community whose traditions and history have long been bastardized and adopted by White filmmakers, we are hopefully moving towards a time where Indigenous filmmakers are celebrated and given the opportunities they deserve.

In kwêskosîw (She Whistles), Thirza Cuthand pays tribute to the traditions of her ancestry, and to the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) across Canada and the United States. The 12-minute short film follows Stephanie (Sera-Lys McArthur) a 2-Spirit nêhiyaw woman on a cab ride to her girlfriend's place. When Stephanie's cab driver (Aidan Devine) assaults her, she discovers a supernatural power within her that not only saves her, but possibly gives her the ability to solve what happened to her mother.

I was surprised to learn that kwêskosîw (She Whistles) was shot entirely in Toronto. The small town feel and desolate setting feel removed from Cherry Beach — a real testament to Cuthand's filmmaking prowess. The Northern Lights play an important role in the short film, with its energy looking after Stephanie, and the images of the lights are weaved in beautifully to the film.

Canada is currently amidst a reckoning with regards to its historical and present-day treatment of Indigenous peoples. In my capacity as a Canadian film lover and writer, I personally think it's a responsibility to highlight Indigenous cinema, especially when it shines as bright as kwêskosîw (She Whistles). It's a moving short film that is uncomfortable and important. It's without hyperbole when I say, as the film ended, I hit my desk and said, "YES!". These are the films and filmmakers I want to see — whether they're telling stories about their communities or not.

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival runs online from October 13 to 17.