Edge of the Knife (2018)

When a man accidentally causes the death of the son of his best friend, the man is wracked by grief and runs off into the woods.

Directors:

Gwaai Edenshaw (as Gwaii Edenshaw), Helen Haig-Brown

Writers:

Gwaai Edenshaw, Jaalen Edenshaw

Stars:

Curtis Brown, Diane Brown, Greg Brown

18 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Curtis Brown	...	Attendant / gaagiid dancer
Diane Brown	...	Nanaay
Greg Brown	...	Gaas' Xaants'ii
Toddi Lauren Brown	...	Fish cutter
Delores Churchill	...	Naanii 1
Zachary Collison	...	Ts'acklii
Russel Davis	...	Watcher
Sam Derrick-York	...	Tluujaad
Sherri Dick	...	Naanii 3
Leo Gagnon	...	Kwa's father
Merika Gladstone	...	Raven Child
Emma Grinder	...	Eagle Child
Xiila Taayii Guujaaw	...	Sk'ayuu
Sphenia Jones	...	Daasjaadee
Brandon Kallio	...	Adiits'ii's father

Storyline

In a 19th-century summer, two large families gather for their annual fishing retreat on the far-removed island of Haida Gwaii. Adiits'ii, a charming nobleman, accidentally causes the death of his best friend Kwa's son and hastens into the wilderness. Adiits'ii is tormented by what he has done and spirals into insanity, becoming Gaagiixid, a supernatural being crazed by hunger. He unexpectedly survives the winter, and at next year's gathering, the families try to convert Gaagiixid back to Adiitst'ii.

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Plot Keywords:

death | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Some of the actors did not speak Haida before making this film. Prior to production, the filmmakers held a two week language bootcamp for the cast, during which the actors lived communally in a traditional longhouse.

User Reviews

A success

This is a successful telling of a Haida folk legend - it effectively brings to life and adds emotional depth to what would seem to the outsider as just a simple myth.

The performances are good, though the dialogue feels quite formal and a bit artificial in its pauses and slowness; I get the impression that that this is from the challenge of a script in a language that is almost extinct. The most effective scenes, from an acting perspective, occur when there is little dialogue and more body language.

The script is very well written and focused on telling a simple story.

Art and set design, cinematography...the actual visual portraying of this world is a triumph. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to observe the Haida people's traditions in their beautiful home.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

Canada

Language:

Haida English

Release Date:

25 May 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Edge of the Knife

Filming Locations:

Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD1,800,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Niijang Xyalaas, Kingulliit Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Color:

Color