Four Sheets to the Wind
Directed bySterlin Harjo
Written bySterlin Harjo
Produced byChad Burris
Ted Kroeber
Cheyenne Fletcher
StarringCody Lightning
Tamara Podemski
Laura Bailey
Jeri Arredondo
CinematographyFredrick Schroder
Edited byDavid Michael Maurer
Music byJeffery Johnson
Production
companies
Indion Entertainment Group
KishProductions
Dirt Road Productions
Distributed byFirst Look Studios
Release date
  • January 22, 2007 (2007-01-22) (Sundance)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Creek

Four Sheets to the Wind is a 2007 independent drama film written and directed by Sterlin Harjo. It was Harjo's first feature film, and won several awards at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and American Indian Film Festival.

Plot

The film tells the story of Cufe, a young Seminole/Creek man who travels from his small Oklahoma home town to Tulsa to visit his sister, Miri, after the suicide and funeral of their father. While Miri struggles with her life in the city, Cufe becomes friendly, and then romantically involved, with Miri's neighbor, Francie, and he begins to perceive that his life has more possibilities than he had realized.[1][2]

Cast

Production

The script was developed with the support of the Sundance Institute[3] and was filmed in Holdenville, Oklahoma (Harjo's hometown) and in Tulsa.[1][4] Harjo has commented that one of his purposes in writing the script was to react against expectations and stereotypes, for example by depicting Cufe "drinking a beer" while not making alcoholism a central issue, and showing him becoming involved with Francie without making the movie into "an issue-driven interracial relationship story".[5]

Reception

The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the grand jury prize. Tamara Podemski won a Sundance special jury prize for her performance as Miri,[6] and she was later nominated for best supporting actress at the 2007 Independent Spirit Awards.[2] At the 2007 American Indian Film Festival, Harjo was named best director, and Cody Lightning was named best actor for his performance as Cufe.[7]

The film received largely positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[8] Associated Press reviewer Duane Byrge noted that it was a "captivating crowd-pleaser" at Sundance and praised the actors, described it as "a personal story that transcends any specific heritage or geographic setting".[9] Variety's Dennis Harvey commented that the film is "so low-key it risks making little impression", but ultimately wins "viewer sympathy and affection".[10] Zack Haddad of Film Threat compared the film to Garden State and complimented its "wonderfuly oddball comedy" as well as its "heart-felt" message.[11]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardWinner/NomineeCategoryResult
2007American Indian Film Festival[12]Sterlin HarjoBest FilmNominated
Best DirectorWon
Cody LightningBest ActorWon
Tamara PodemskiBest ActressNominated
Jeri ArredondoBest Supporting ActressNominated
Sundance Film Festival[3]Sterlin HarjoGrand Jury Prize - DramaticNominated
Special Jury Prize - DramaticWon
2008Independent Spirit Awards[13] Tamara PodemskiBest Supporting FemaleNominated

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Anderson, John (August 27, 2006). "This Time, the Indians Tell Their Own Story". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  2. 1 2 Horton, Andrew; Rapf, Joanna E., eds. (2012). A Companion to Film Comedy. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 386ff. ISBN 978-1118327845.
  3. 1 2 "Straight Out of Sundance: "Reservation Dogs" Creator Sterlin Harjo on Making His First Feature, "Four Sheets to the Wind"". sundance.org. September 8, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Camera Q&A: Sterlin Harjo on filming in Oklahoma". Camera in the Sun. November 26, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kline, Joshua (June 3, 2010). "Sterlin Harjo and the Real Indian". This Land Press.
  6. ↑ "Sundance film winners explore 'our global society'". Deseret News. January 28, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sterlin Harjo". National Museum of the American Indian. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Four Sheets to the Wind". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ Byrge, Duane (January 24, 2007). "Four Sheets to the Wind". Associated Press – via The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (January 30, 2007). "Four Sheets To The Wind". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ Haddad, Zack (January 24, 2007). "Four Sheets to the Wind". Film Threat. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  12. ↑ "32nd American Indian Film Festival". American Indian Film Festival. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011.
  13. ↑ Zekas, Rita (October 11, 2008). "Taming Wild Dogs and reused duds". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
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