Coming-of-age films have been a mainstay in cinema for decades. By now, you would think that audiences have seen just about every iteration of the genre that features young people figuring out their lives through some sort of monumental event. But odds are, you have yet to see one similar to “Wildhood.”
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With “Wildhood” set to make its debut this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, we’re thrilled to give our readers an exclusive look at a teaser for the film. The coming-of-age drama follows a young person, Link, who lives with a toxic father and a younger half-brother. After discovering that his Mi’kmaw mother might be alive, he goes on a journey across Mi’kma’ki as he starts to understand a side of his heritage that he has yet to explore.
What makes “Wildhood” such an interesting film is that the Canadian story is the first queer/two-spirited Indigenous film selected at TIFF and features two young First Nation actors. The film stars Philip Lewitski, Joshua Odjick, and Avery Winters-Anthony. “Wildhood” marks the feature debut of filmmaker Bretten Hannam, who is a two-spirit L’nu filmmaker born and raised in Mi’kma’ki, Nova Scotia, where the film is set.
“Wildhood” is set to make its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. You can watch the exclusive teaser for the film below.
Here’s the synopsis:
In a rural east-coast trailer park, Link lives with his toxic father and younger half-brother Travis. When Link discovers his Mi’kmaw mother could still be alive, it lights a flame and they make a run for a better life. On the road they meet Pasmay, a pow wow dancer drawn to Link. As the boys journey across Mi’kma’ki, Link finds community, identity, and love in the land where he belongs.