Bootlegger

Mani, a student, wants to bring about change on her family’s reserve, only to discover that little has changed since she left. A fast-paced thriller-drama about a homecoming with consequences.

On 29 October, the film series ‘Reclaiming Youth – Young Indigenous Voices from Canada’ kicks off with an introduction by curator Silvia Posavec

Law student Mani (Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs) returns to her family’s remote reserve in northern Québec to work on her final dissertation. Warmly welcomed by her grandparents, she soon realises just how much she has become estranged from her roots. At the same time, her past catches up with her, and with it the community’s problems, foremost among them the rampant alcohol abuse. Mani grapples with the self-imposed prohibition on the reserve, thereby sparking a controversial debate. She realises how deep the corruption runs and must stand up for what she believes is right.

What begins as a search for her own roots develops into an examination of structural discrimination, Canadian reserve policy and cultural self-determination. In doing so, director Caroline Monnet addresses alcoholism without perpetuating stigmatising stereotypes. Through her skilful use of different languages, social hierarchies are also brought to light. She accompanies the journey with an allegorical gaze upon the landscape, builds suspense and places intriguing adversaries in Mani’s path. BOOTLEGGER is a clever and self-assured call for self-reflection and self-empowerment.