Malni-Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore 2020
Distributed by Global Film Initiative, 145 Ninth St., #105, San Francisco, CA 94103
Produced by Sky Hopinka and Steve Holmgren
Directed by Sky Hopinka
Streaming, 82 mins
Middle School - General Adult
Native Peoples
Date Entered: 10/21/2021
Reviewed by Kara Van Abel, Reference Librarian & Liaison to the Collat School of Business, University of Alabama at BirminghamThe film, Malni-Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore, evokes a sense of peace in the viewer. It centers around two present-day Native Americans, Sweetwater Sahme and Jordan Mercier, and the origin of the death myth of the Chinookan people. The film uses long takes, unusual camera angles, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack to examine the themes of life, death, and beyond. The scenery of the beautiful Pacific Northwest accompanied by sounds of nature creates a meditative and reflective atmosphere. The scenes and moods shift seamlessly using a soundtrack of instrumental music interspersed with the sounds of rain, waterfalls, underwater paddling, crackling fires, drums, and wind.
In interviews with Sweetwater (who speaks in English and has Chinook Wawa subtitles) and Jordan (who speaks in Chinook Wawa and has English subtitles) the narrator draws out their stories of childhood, connections to their ancestors, and hopes for the future. The pacing of the film can be a bit slow, but this is clearly intentional so that the viewer can reflect on what is being shared. Malni-Towards the Ocean, Towards the Shore is beautiful both to watch and to listen to. This film is recommended for audiences who want to learn about indigenous cultures and beliefs in contemporary settings. It also provides a breathtaking look at the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
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