In her 54th film, Alanis Obomsawin pays tribute to her friend’s remarkable life and rich legacy. Despite spending his early life away from his nation’s culture, renowned Haida artist Bill Reid always kept Haida Gwaii close to his heart. While working for CBC Radio, he started learning how to make jewelry, then later sculpture, using Haida techniques and images, a move that would forever change his life and the Canadian artistic landscape. Reid’s powerful narration in the film—interspersed with Obomsawin’s own—recounts his complex childhood, his emergence as an accomplished artist, and his profound connection to his homeland. Decades after his passing, Bill Reid remains an enduring force and one of Canada’s greatest artists.
Review: You can’t go wrong with any National Film Board of Canada offering. “Bill Reid Remembers by Alanis Obomsawin” will bring you closer to the art of Bill Reid. It will also make you look closer at the toonie in your pocket. We reflect on the importance of the trees, the land and wildlife and how they play important roles in the welfare of the human spirit. Brimming in insight into the Indigenous worldview, culture and spirituality – Bill Reid narrates Haida resiliency into this poetic documentary. Resplendent. Inspirational.
Thirty Four Flavours Rating: 5/5
Thirty Four Flavours 