The Cinematheque

“Hannam is sensitive in using their craft to soften the rugged young men at the centre of Wildhood … The quiet candour with which Hannam addresses issues of masculinity, and how it intersects with an Indigenous and queer identity, elevates this [film].”

Natalia Winkelman, The New York Times

Wildhood, directed by two-spirit L’nu filmmaker Bretten Hannam, is a captivating coming-of-age film chronicling the journey of two brothers to reunite with their mother. Along the way, they meet Pasmay (Joshua Odjick), a powwow dancer who helps Link (Phillip Lewitski), the elder sibling, discover their sexuality and reconnect to their Indigenous culture. Adapted from Hannam’s acclaimed short film Wildfire, Wildhood offers a raw and authentic portrayal of adolescence, navigating the complexities of toxic family dynamics, the resilience and reclamation of Indigenous culture, and Link’s exploration of their sexuality as a two-spirit teenager. Wildhood emerges as an addition to the burgeoning Indigenous filmmaking movement, weaving together themes of identity, community, love, and the strength of the human spirit.

In English and Mi’kmaq with English subtitles

“[An] open wound of a film about broken lineage, generational trauma, and the yearning to find community, while also confronting homophobia within Indigenous communities … Hannam handles all that without ever abandoning a sense of warmth and hopefulness.”

Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW Toronto