Brothers who recently lost their father head to his land hoping to meet the Bird people so that they can get half of the money he left them. Along the way, they find more important things than money while also finding themselves.
Written and directed by Sanjay Patel, The Birds Who Feared Death is a beautiful exploration of legacy, where one comes from, community, belonging, loss, grief, self-discovery, and what makes each individual who they are. This may seem like a lot for one 1hour and 42 minutes long film but it all flies by quickly as it takes the viewer along for the ride from the big city to the Canadian wilderness. The writing here feels authentic, or as authentic as this viewer can know about some of the subjects are hand. The film is well-written with solid direction, making it a cohesive film about many things that doesn’t feel like it’s hitting you over the head with these things. This is self-discovery and allowing one to just be while not being sanctimonious about what they should have done and how they should do things now. Yes, there are a few characters who are not in agreement with the rest or with the leads, but this takes the viewer deeper into the subjects and themes and how different cultures respond to a loss and everything that comes with it. The film also puts in some of the realities of life as part of the First Nations in Canada, a life that is different from city life and from most of the countryside life as most Canadians know it. The film approaches these differences beautifully well.
The cast here is mostly great with a few misses here and there. Lead characters Adam and Ryan, the brothers at the center of it all, are played by Adam Beach and Simon Baker who create a very brotherly dynamic between them where there is plenty of love but also some strife, leading them to find different things once they reach the land of the Bird people. There, they meet a variety of people including the Chief played by perennial presence in Canadian films and television Graham Greene who is of course fantastic here. He gets just a few scenes and steals each one of them. He balances out the brothers in tone and presence and makes the most of it all. Carmen Moore plays Sharon beautiful well as well, giving her fire and passion, making her a woman you’d follow into battle. The rest of the cast, as mentioned, is good with a few scenes here and there where the acting falls flat, but they are too few to worry about.
The cinematography by Charles Hamilton (and team) is beautiful here, even stunning in spots, showing a part of Canada not often seen in films. The way the work is done here gives the viewer a good view of the locations while giving these locations the reverence they deserve and a personality that helps them become like an extra character. If you’ve never been to Canada, this might sell you on it, especially for the deep countryside. The editing here was by Mark Goldman and Sanjay Patel who take these images and make them into something that moves with a flow and dynamic that work great for the story, the scenes linger at times when they need to and move away when it’s time.
The Birds Who Feared Death is a stunning film with quiet power that is easy to watch and get into, giving the viewers a story of self-discovery and one of community that is strong in themes and in the way it delivers its message.