Well deserved film for Buffy Sainte-Marie @TIFF2022

This article is sponsored by AG Group Enterprise

Many of us must have been wondering why there haven’t been any documentaries on Buffy Sainte-Marie. The indigenous artist, activist, and musician who broke through the music industry back in the 1960s paved the way. Not only for indigenous people but for Canadians and women.

Director Madison Thomas knows that Buffy Sainte-Marie was in for a well-deserving biopic of her life journey. Madison Thomas surpassed with flying colours at TIFF with its premiere on the weekend. The film was leaving the audience and Buffy’s fans’ hearts full.

A lot of us boomers do not even realize how much of a trailblazer Buffy-Sainte Marie was. Back in the 1960s, indigenous people were perceived differently on both sides of the border, especially in the media. Buffy was able to use her charm and creativity to put her imprint on the map. At the same time, leveraging herself into conversations where she felt indigenous people were misunderstood and above all mistreated. Breaking that stereotype through her music and activism was an intelligent strategy for minority and vulnerable groups at the time. Even though the government derailed her music at one point.

Director Madison Thomas

What stands out in this documentary is director Madison Thomas‘ captivating and seamless form of storytelling of Buffy’s complex career. The footage and pictures that Buffy herself dug up for this documentary are just astounding. It just shows how green everyone was and is still about issues such as Indigenous and women’s rights back in the 1960s.

These are times to reflect on to show how far we have actually come. Furthermore, how much more work do we need to sustain it? Having Buffy Sainte-Marie reflecting on her times on television on shows like The Virginian and Sesame Street nearly five decades later is a godsend.

What we like most about Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On is her own attitude towards her career. Sure there may be regrets but she sure as hell embraces those decisions that she made. At the age of 81, she is a different person but she still has a heart full of happiness. She is more charming than ever. She is the inspiration for many of us who are going through are everyday struggles.

Buffy Sainte-Marie came out of nowhere and tore down many walls that have led many others to be able to do what they do today. She did it in such a manner that not any filmmaker was able to tell her story. Fortunately, director Madison Thomas has succeeded in unlocking that code. Now all of us can learn one of the best stories of a true icon. FERNTV highly recommends seeking out this film.