Three quick questions with director Darlene Naponse:

 

By Emmanuel Itier and Roxanna Bina

 

 

 

 

Anishinaabe director Darlene Naponse's poetic love story, Stellar premiered at the 2022 Toronto Int'l Film Festival and met with critical and audience acclaim. Stellar is the fourth feature from Naponse and is based on her short story of the same name.

 

The love story between indigenous SHE and HE takes place in the unexpected haven of a Northern Ontario dive bar while natural disasters unfold. SHE and HE sit apart, quietly in a tiny dive bar. They accidentally touch, setting atmospheric changes into motion and a meteorite blasting through. As it approaches Earth, She and He continue in their protected selves. As the meteorite bursts onto the land, it shoots fireballs hundreds of kilometers away from the bar. Pushing the water far, and building hills of rock, the water returns as a tsunami seemingly melting the rocks away. Inside the bar, She and He are untouched by massive wildfires, flooding, and more happening outside as the meteorite drops down, creating the extreme environmental crises seen only through the giant front window. Inside this tiny dive bar, through touch, their duality formulates.

 

Based on historical research, the meteorite hit the area of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek territory, millions of years ago, forming one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world. Millions of years later, the land is occupied by the Anishnawbek of Atikameksheng, then as colonizers approach, the natural beauty of this formation becomes fortune to the settlers. This is the backstory and environment – the natural world around the lovers. The story pushes through historical trauma, formed by colonization. Stellar is set within the fluidity of time, touch, realism, and reverie. Based on Indigenous knowledge and way of life, the story allows two people to heal through touch, calm, love, and patience in a fantastical space filled with love.

 

Stellar is written, directed by Darlene Naponse, and produced by Darlene Naponse, Jennifer Weiss, and Paula Devonshire. The film stars Elle-Maija Tailfeathers(  ) as "She," Braeden Clarke ( ) as "He," Rossif Sutherland as "The Bartender," and K.C. Collins (. ) as "Dance," with appearances by Heli Kijanen, Megan Dawson, Billy Merasty and Tina Keeper. Running Time: 87 min