SYRACUSE – The East Coast premiere of Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation, specifically for Haudenosaunee citizens, was held in Syracuse, N.Y. on June 3.
The red carpet affair took on the air of a family reunion as friends from various nations caught up on news while waiting to have their pictures taken. Many of those in attendance were featured in the film, including Iroquois Nationals players, Haudenosaunee historian Rick Hill, Grammy-award winner Joanne Shenandoah, and many others.
For lacrosse fans, the film is not to be missed. It captures key plays during the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship in Denver and the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships, hosted at the Onondaga Nation, in high-definition, slow-motion footage. It’s a chance to revel in the “impossible” plays made by the Thompson brothers and the other highly skilled Iroquois Nationals players throughout the games.
“The film is not just about lacrosse — it is much deeper than that,” noted Onondaga lacrosse stick maker Alf Jacques during the Q&A following the film. “It taught everybody a lot of things, even taught us something about ourselves. It’s a great documentary.”
Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation is a documentary that interweaves the compelling story of the rise of the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team with an opportunity for the world to better understand Haudenosaunee sovereignty and the lasting impacts of the Doctrine of Discovery.
“We hope this documentary not only tells a good story, but can open up much-needed conversations about the structural injustices against indigenous peoples that continue today,” remarked Baxter.
Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation is being shown in select independent theaters, including the Palace Theater in Syracuse on June 24 at 7 p.m., and will be available on iTunes and Amazon starting June 20.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/SpiritGamePride/ for more information and showings.
