PLOT: In a remote Cree community, an old fan of Hank Williams (Jimmy Herman) decides a road trip to visit his hero's grave is in order. He takes along his teenage nephew, and their journey becomes the biggest thing to happen to their tiny town -- which, mind you, has its own fish to fry.
Hank Williams First Nation happens to be both heartbreaking and hilarious -- quite a feat for an independent feature made on a budget of about $1.29.
Written and directed by Aaron Sorensen, Hank Williams First Nation is a movie about big, full lives in a tiny community.
One day, 75-year-old Uncle Martin (Jimmy Herman) decides that he and his teenage nephew (Colin Van Loon) should go on a road trip and visit the grave of Hank Williams. Better yet, maybe they'll find out if Hank Williams is really dead. It's a fan thing.
Once grandfather Adelard (Gordon Tootoosis) arranges for the teen to get out of school for a while and also bribes the kid with the promise of a computer, the bus journey to "find" Hank Williams begins.
The two men -- one old, one young -- soon attract media coverage, and news of their trip becomes a focus for the small community they left behind.
But the people at home are busy, too, what with Sarah's (Stacy Da Silva) high-school romance, talk of Dolly Parton, Hugh's unusual firewood business and all manner of amusing, small-town carry-on. There's a lot of whimsical moments and humour and beautiful scenery in the beginning of Hank Williams First Nation, and it's all so charming that you hardly notice when the story moves gradually into life and death territory. The film does not shy away from some of the huge challenges available on the reservation.
Hank Williams First Nation has a lot going for it, including a superb country-flavoured soundtrack that recently won the Best Music Award at the Nashville International Film Festival. Shot over three weeks in Peace River, it's the first Canadian film ever to premiere in competition at the American Film Institute's Los Angeles film festival.
Filmmaker Aaron Sorensen is so sure that people will like his movie that he wants you to know this: Anyone who goes to Hank Williams First Nation on opening day -- today -- and doesn't like it can send in a ticket stub and get his or her money back. Visit hwfn.com for contact information.
Hank Williams First Nation is playing at the Carlton, as well as the AMC theatres at Whitby, Kennedy Commons, the Interchange, and Winston Churchill.
(This film is rated PG)
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