Tkaronto

Tkaronto is a pro­voc­ative explor­a­tion of two Aboriginal thirty-somethings caught in the urban crossroads.

Ray (Duane Murray) and Jolene (Melanie McLaren) discover an unex­pected con­nec­tion when their paths cross in Tkaronto (the original Mohawk word for “Toronto”). Ray, a Métis writer, has come to Toronto to pitch his TV series, Indian Jones, which is prom­ising to be the big break he needs, espe­cially with a pregnant girl­friend back home. Jolene, a Los Angeles-based Anishnabe painter, is passing through Toronto to conduct an inter­view with a prom­inent elder, Max (played by Corner Gas’s Lorne Cardinal) and is suddenly taken aback when Max presents her with an eagle feather, an honour that she feels unworthy of.

As Ray faces his ambi­val­ence about impending fath­er­hood and the prospect of selling his material to ignorant TV execs, Jolene grapples with self-doubt and struggles to finish her inter­views with Max. An attrac­tion between them develops as both are drawn together by a mutual search for meaning in their urban existence.

For Jolene and Ray home feels very far away. But through their chance meeting they reveal their hopes, dreams, fears and failures and realize their common struggle: to stake claim to their urban abori­ginal identity.

2009 / Canada / Colour / English / 2.35 letterbox / Dolby Digital / 105 minutes

Director: Shane Belcourt

Cast: Duane Murray, Melanie McLaren, Lorne Cardinal

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Commentary with Shane Belcourt, Jordan O'Connor and Duane Murray
• Interviews with Melanie McLaren and Shane Belcourt
• Anatomy of the "Phone Call" scene
• Behind the scenes slide show with commentary by Melanie McLaren, Duane Murray, and Shane Belcourt
• Title Track music video
• Theatrical trailer

Product Number: KNS 50023

UPC Number: 8-81751-50023-6