The Birds Who Fear Death

The death of their estranged father sends two brothers on the trip of a lifetime. As their father's spirit heads for the great beyond they head to the back of beyond, where it all started.

In this richly textured homecoming to a home they never knew, Bird, Adan and Ryan encounter beauty, tragedy, heartbreak, and ultimate loss.

Achingly beautiful prairie vistas are superbly captured as a backdrop to nuanced and righteously subtle actor portrayals.

The flight to Bird is indeed a complicated one. It dive bombs for truth, banks with introspection and swoops with unexpected mirth.

The Birds Who Fear Death is a movie worth watching with writer, director and producer Sanjay Patel's grit, passion and heart emblazoned across it's wingspan.

I finally got to see "The Birds Who Fear Death" and review it, and it was a pretty cool ride. The movie follows two brothers who set off on a wild adventure deep in the Canadian wilderness. It mixes family drama with lots of down to earth humor and doesn't hold back on the real life messiness of family ties and finding your own identity. The backdrop/cast is amazing and Alberta's epic landscapes and genuine Indigenous vibes add a whole extra layer to the story. It's a chill, heartfelt movie that sticks with you. Definitely give it a watch if you're into stories that feel real and a bit offbeat.

This film is an absolute must-see, blending a powerful story with breathtaking visuals and an incredible Indigenous cast. It delves deep into themes of family, culture, greed, and redemption, offering an emotional journey that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. The performances from Canada's top Indigenous actors, like Adam Beach and Graham Greene, are authentic and deeply compelling, bringing each character to life in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Director Sanjay Patel balances raw emotion with moments of genuine humour, making the film both thought-provoking and entertaining. The cinematography, showcasing Alberta's natural beauty, is stunning and perfectly complements the story's tone. This film is a beautiful exploration of cultural disconnection, personal growth, and the strength of human connection. Don't miss out on this captivating experience-it's a gem that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

The aptly titled "The Birds Who Fear Death" is a beautiful piece of Alberta & Canadian cinema. I had the pleasure of attending the screening at the Calgary International Film Festival and was incredibly touched by this moving & captivating film.

Sanjay Patel is a brilliant storyteller and the cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. As the characters go on no ordinary journey of self discovery, the audience is completely enthralled as we go along with them and we encounter unexpected turns along the way.

Sanjay honours the indigenous community by telling a story highlighting a reservation and the challenges faced through an entirely different lens that is so remarkably unique, while also being educational without forcing it. The absolutely brilliant cast rounds out this powerful film.

I highly recommend this film, and I hope it makes its way to the world stage where it deserves to be seen.

Wow, this movie is seriously one of the best Indigenous films I've seen in forever-and honestly, just one of the best films, period! Huge shoutout to Sanjay Patel for wearing so many hats on this project and bringing such a beautiful, touching, and hopeful story to life. Here's the scoop on the film (spoilers ahead!): So, Adam (played by Adam Beach) and Ryan Spence (played by Simon Baker) are hit with a shock when they find out their dad, William, left all his money to an Indigenous community in Northern Alberta instead of to them. When they get there, they're faced with the harsh reality of a cancer crisis affecting the community, all tied to industrial development. The acting chief, Faddy (Played by Glen Gould), is not holding back and blames their dad for all the mess.

The brothers decide they want to get their inheritance back, so they try to make some allies in the community. They go to Don (played by Nathaniel Arcand) for help after Sharon gives them the idea, but they back off when his demands get too steep.

Despite all the drama at first, the memory of Ed Whitford, a former chief respected by everyone, gives them a glimmer of hope for reconciliation. Faddy starts to see that there's more going on than just their dad's actions and chooses to let go of the inheritance. But this sets off Don, leading to a big, violent showdown that ends tragically with Ryan's death.

Adam, crushed by grief and unsure of where his life is headed, seeks peace in the wilderness. His journey helps him find a simpler way to live, shifting from greed to a real connection with nature and people. This is where Adam starts to find redemption and personal growth.