Review: Seeds bears fruit

There are certain movies you watch in your life that sit with you even after the credits roll.

For some, maybe it's just nostalgia. Just taking a look back at this summer's blockbusters can give you the sense that, yes, maybe Hollywood is starting to run out of ideas.

Sure, there are the hidden gems of cinema slithering amongst the remakes, second and third sequels, and spinoffs. Lately, even those hidden gems need to be backed by the big-budget studios to grab any sort of traction at the box office. But when did movies become the money-grab they are today?

What happened to the indie films that only become legends 15 years later? Where is the movie magic that had you leave the theatre believing that a man could fly? 

Last week I had the chance to witness something refreshing yet familiar: Seeds, written, directed by, and starring Kahnawa’kehró:non Kaniehtiio Horn. With titles like that, a lot of people might be expecting a one-woman-show, but after being in one of the first audiences to see the film, I can say Seeds is anything but. 

Community members came out in droves to the United Church Hall, the place where many young Indigenous thespians were first introduced to the arts – quite a full-circle moment for Horn as this was the birthplace of her acting career.

Seeds main character Ziggy, a social media content creator from the rez who is living in Toronto, climbs up the corporate ladder and gets hired by a big fertilizing company.  

This taste of success is everything, but sometimes the taste of success can come bittersweet. Ziggy starts having dreams that she seems to brush off at first, but soon those dreams start to manifest themselves in real life.

The majority of the story takes place on Ziggy's reserve when she gets called back to watch the family house, not realizing the danger that followed her there. Ziggy must find the courage to face the danger head on and save the seeds that her family has passed down through the generations.

Seeds has a way of shifting tones from comedy to thriller naturally. This is a result of the excellent writing and direction on Horn's part. Not a moment is held too long, no joke is too far out of reach. And personally, this film already felt like a classic – something I know will be watched every Halloween season. 

The plot doesn't just follow the usual what-goes-bump-in-the-night tropes. Instead, Seeds is able to mask the messages of colonialism embedded in the storyline by having the antagonist's motives support the "greater good" of their company.

Understanding that the real seeds aren't just the physical seeds you can plant in your garden, but they represent the history, culture, and language passed down generation after generation. 

It's movies like this that not only hold a strong message for all Onkwehón:we, but also allow non-indigenous audiences to get a glimpse of what our people go through in a metaphorical, literal, and spiritual way.

Seeds leaves everything open to interpretation, allowing the spectator to gauge the heaviness and depth of the story.  

If you are looking for something funny, if you are looking for something thrilling, if you are looking for a story rooted in true Native culture, please take the time check out Seeds. 

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