The wild beauty of the Bella Coola Valley blends with vivid watercolor animation illuminating the role of the Nuxalk oral tradition and the intersection of story, place and culture.
Cry Rock · 28:43 · Documentary · HD · Colour · Stereo · English · Canada · 2010
In 2010, less than fifteen Nuxalk language speakers and storytellers remained. One of these elders is the director Banchi Hanuse’s grandmother. In a technologically obsessed century, it would seem easier to record Nuxalk stories for future generations, but Hanuse resists. Instead, she asks whether an electronic recording can capture the true meaning and value of these oral traditions. More importantly, can it be considered cultural knowledge?
Cry Rock examines how Nuxalk stories are more than mere words. With the passing of an elder, an invaluable link to a treasure of knowledge and experience reflecting the Nuxalk world view is lost. As Hanuse struggles with the decision, a spine tingling story about the Cry Rock in the bend of the Atnarko River, nestled in the Bella Coola Valley, is retold by Clyde Tallio, a young Nuxalk man.
Immersive and revealing, the documentary blends interviews set against the wild beauty of the Bella Coola Valley with vivid watercolour animation. Cry Rock illuminates the intersection of Nuxalk history, place and spirit that are at the heart of an oral storytelling tradition.
Kodak Image Award
Spotlight Awards | Women in Film & Television Vancouver 2012
Indigenous Filmmakers Award
Social Change Film Festival 2012 | co-host First Peoples Worldwide
Best Documentary Short Subject
Golden Sheaf Awards | 2011 Yorkton Film Festival
National Film Board of Canada (NFB) Kathleen Shannon Award
Golden Sheaf Awards | 2011 Yorkton Film Festival
Audience Choice
Dawson City International Short Film Festival 2011
People’s Choice Award
Cowichan International Aboriginal Film Festival 2011
Most Inspirational Short Film (ages 13+)
Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth 2011
Best Documentary Short
6th Annual Vancouver Women in Film Festival
Honorable Mention – Best Indigenous Voice
Fargo Film Festival 2011
In Order of Appearance
ANUXIMANA • VIOLET TALLIO
SNXAKILA• CLYDE TALLIO
XIMLTWA • CLARENCE ELLIOTT
ILISTAYS • BEATRICE ELLIOTT
ALVIN MACK
QWATSINAS
WILHPUN • DEBORAH NELSON
LHMTIMUT • SAMUEL NELSON
Also Appearing
CARMEN HANS
TSU • JOE MACK
LHLALYAM • CHARLES NELSON
K’A7IT • JIMMY NELSON
ACWSALCTA SCHOOL
CHESTER BROOK
LYRIC GAJZAGO
ALBERT EDGAR
ISABEL LEYS
SILAS CHAPMAN-TALLIO
JADE MACK
TRINITY MACK
LHALYAMC • JOHN MOODY
CHASE YOUNKER
Writer|Director|Producer
SLTS’LANI • BANCHI HANUSE
Animator
JAY WHITE
Editor
CARMEN POLLARD
ERIN CUMMING
Cinematographer
SYLVAINE DUFAUX
Original Music
JOELYSA PANKANEA
Consulting Producer
RINA FRATICELLI
Camera Assistant
KIM McNAUGHTON
Sound Editor
MIKE PAPROCKI
Sound
BROOKE THOMSON
Production Assistant
SAMANTHA EDGAR
Additional Cinematography
BANCHI HANUSE
Colourist
SHANE McCORMACK
Story Consultant
ANNIE REID
Transcriber
UMQ’UMKLIKA • EVANGELINE HANUSE
Music Recordist
BRIAN BARR
Studio Musicians
Violin – MEREDITH BATES
Bass – MARK HANEY
Cello – ELINOR HARSHENIN
Guitar – RICK MADDOCKS
Animation Voice
BILLY ANDY SR
PATRICIA ANDY
LELAND DESTER
OPAL POOTLASS
FELISHA SNOW
DELILAH WEBBER
KYLE WINDSOR
To obtain the Cry Rock documentary for exhibition or educational use, please contact:
Moving Images Distribution
Phone: 604.684.3014
Toll Free: 800.684.3014
EMAIL - Moving Images Distribution
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