Older than America

Directed by Georgina Lightning

United States, 2008 (fiction, 101 minutes, colour, English)

Also known as "American Evil", "Segreti dal passato"

Film Description:
"A woman's haunting visions reveal a Catholic priest's sinister plot to silence her mother from speaking the truth about the atrocities that occurred at a Native American boarding school. A contemporary drama of suspense, Older than America focuses on the lasting impact of the cultural genocide that occurred at such schools."
-- Tribal Alliance Productions (source)

Film Credits (partial):
Written by:	Georgina Lightning, Christine Kunewa Walker
Produced by:	Christine Kunewa Walker, Audrey Martinez, Adam Beach
Principal Cast:	Adam Beach, Tantoo Cardinal, Bradley Cooper, Glen Gould, Dan Harrison, Georgina Lightning, Chris Mulkey, Wes Studi, Steve Yoakam, Sarah Agnew
Cinematography:	Shane F. Kelly
Film Editing:	Clayton Condit, Michael R. Miller
Music:	George S. Clinton
Production Company:	Tribal Alliance Productions

(sources)

Notes about Older than America

Filmed in Minnesota.

(sources)

Quotes by the Director

"I thought it [making Older than America] would be very difficult, but I was just honest with the crew and said, 'This is my first time. Teach me everything.' And people were really supportive and excited about that. The people who worked with us, these are people who want to be invested in something that matters. [...] When I went to Fond du Lac [Reservation in Minnesota], they opened their arms. There's not one person there who hasn't been affected by the boarding schools, so they gave us everything we needed: location, extras. They piled dirt for us, they cleared things. We got our hotel at a discount, and all that extra money we put on screen. And all this, they said, 'We'll give it to you on one condition: you have to let us have a feast and a wrap party for you.' That was the condition. They were really wonderful."
-- Georgina Lightning (source)

"It's all about the next generation. They're the ones who give me inspiration and purpose; everything I do is aimed at my kids, and, hopefully, my grandchildren. Creating social change in the world, that's what's exciting to me, and that was the initiative for the film [Older than America]."
-- Georgina Ligtning (source)

Bibliography for Older than America

Articles from Newspapers, Magazines, or News Websites

Hall, Jamie. "Cree filmmaker could make history tonight; Edmonton woman nominated for U.S. prize." Edmonton Journal, April 7, 2010.
Sasano, Mari. "Directorial debut handles heavy subject with humanity." Review of Older than America. Edmonton Journal, June 4, 2008.
Sasano, Mari. "Guided by a spirit in her directorial debut; Aboriginal actor wrote thriller about residential school." Interview with Georgina Lightning. Edmonton Journal, June 4, 2008.
Villareal, Phil. "It's a Lightning show." Interview with Georgina Lightning. Arizona Daily Star, November 13, 2008.

Web Sites about Older than America

"IMDb: Older than America." Internet Movie Database, Inc. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0932669/combined.
"Older than America." Tribal Alliance Productions. http://www.olderthanamerica.com/. [official site]