A Windigo Tale

Two stories woven together, one profoundly affecting the other. A Native Canadian grandfather drives north accompanied by his grandson, a youth-at-risk, who comes to learn about the dark secrets of his family and community: in an isolated village an estranged mother and daughter must reunite to exorcise the voracious Windigo spirit tied to a painful past. Taking its inspiration from Ojibway spirituality and from the history of the residential school system, where generations of children were forcibly taken from their families and aggressively assimilated into Euro-Canadian society.

Directed by Armand Garnet Ruffo, A Windigo Tale leans on a strong ensemble — Andrea Menard, Elliot Simon, Annie Murphy — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2010.