FESTIVAL REVIEW
Turtle Island Rap takes us into the lives of three Indigenous rappers, A$h Da Hunter, Wiidaaseh, and Travis Thompson, looking for success in music and their place in the world. Rather than relying on conventional interviews, director Alexandra Lazarowich takes us alongside the artists into their daily routines, following their attempts to make a name for themselves and the difficulties they face along the way.
By following their stories, we gradually get to know the three musicians, their complicated family backgrounds, and how much music means to them. The documentary is intimate in its approach, making it easy to sympathize with their struggles. However, the documentary lacks depth, especially about their music and Indigenous heritage. We see their relationships with their families and communities, but learn surprisingly little about how their backgrounds influence the music they create. Even as we witness their personal difficulties and their search for belonging, the film rarely explores how these experiences relate to their cultural identities. It is a curious omission for a documentary that places so much importance on its subjects being Indigenous artists.
In the end, we get to know three interesting individuals, and it is touching to watch them pursue their dreams despite so many difficulties. Still, we are left on the margins of a bigger picture, with the relationship between their music, identities, and personal experiences remaining largely unexplored.
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- Where to watch
- Coming soon
- Where to watch
- Coming soon
- Original title
- Turtle Island Rap
- Director
- Alexandra Lazarowich
- Genre
- Documentary
- Cast
- Wiidaaseh, Travis Thompson, A$h Da Hunter
- Country
- Language
- English