LONG LINE OF LADIES TO CELEBRATE @SXSW 2022

Many of us have been through quite a lot when we think of this pandemic. Especially, the negative impact that it has had on us all. It’s been difficult for everyone around the world to not celebrate. Whether that is a wedding, anniversary, birthday let alone a promotion or going away party. The latter has been hard to attain during COVID-19 but the common denominator during this pandemic has been no celebrating. For some not even song or dance.

The Ihuk Ceremony

A traditional celebration disappeared long before COVID in the Karuk tribe of Northern California. The coming of age Ihuk ceremony for young women was once dormant in this community. It is a Flower Ceremony once created by its founder Ixareéyavsus. The celebration was for young girls after having their first period. During the Gold Rush, the ceremony came to a halt. Native American women and girls became victims of sexual violence during that period. 120 years later, those of the Karuk tribe in the 1990s have tried to bring it back to its fruition. Knowing that the transition to womanhood and gaining respect for females is highly important.

Directors Rayhak Zehtabchi and Shaandiin Tome focus on the celebration of young Ahtyirahm (Ahty) Allen. She is to receive her Ihuk ceremony in the film Long Line of Ladies. The short documentary premiering at SXSW on March 13th is to normalize period conversations. It is also to highlight the culture that celebrates young girls who are making this transition into womanhood.

It calls for the discussion for young women to be seen, respected and above all included. After many years of brutal oppression, this celebration has come back tenfold. The vision of both Rayhak Zehtabchi and Shaandin Tome is to bring Ahty’s intimate story of her ceremony to a wide audience. Long Line of Ladies shows that there is a need to celebrate women when resisting oppression.

Directors Rayhak Zehtabchi & Shaandiin Tome

Director Rayhak Zehtabchi is well versed when it comes to menstrual equity. She focused on this through her film Period. End of Sentence which won her an Oscar in 2019 and can be streamed on Netflix. It is through her intimate storytelling which achieved the award for the Iranian filmmaker. When it comes to Long Line of Ladies she says,

Taking things to the next level with resonating imagery through her storytelling in Long Line of Ladies is director Shaandin Tome. The director from Albuquerque, New Mexico wanted to build a perspective from a Diné woman. She also knew that aspects of filming Ahty and her family had to take place for Long Line of Ladies. The indigenous filmmaker says,

The Heart of the Film

This brings us to producer Pimm Tripp–Allen who is the heart of the film. Her family and daughter Ahty know what it means to be part of the film that will be shown to the masses. Bringing in the men of the Karuk tribe to celebrate Ahty’s transition to womanhood meant a lot to this celebration. But above all, there was a responsibility to depict the story of the Karuk community in the right frame.

This was a movement to celebrate women but as well to show that the Karuk community is moving on from a violent past. Producer Pimm Tripp-Allen is the anchor in getting this done. There is so much on the line when it comes to working towards the happiness of the girls and women of the Karuk tribe. Tripp-Allen is adamant about making sure that history does not repeat itself but a tradition certainly does.

www.longlineofladies.com