Guitar Lessons, an independent film starring Corb Lund opens in North Battleford October 14 (Submitted Photo: Guitar Lessons/Justin Guadet).

By Ian Roach

INDIE FILM

Canadian-made film that bridges cultures opens this weekend in North Battleford, opening soon in Meadow Lake

Oct 14, 2022 | 9:00 AM

An independently produced film, starring Corb Lund, explores the relationship between a crusty oil rig worker and a young Métis boy opens Friday at The Capitol Theatre in North Battleford, and next week in Meadow Lake.

Guitar Lessons is the story of a Métis boy, played by Kaden Noskiye, who inherits an old guitar from a dad he never knew. He starts looking for someone to teach him how to play it. Lund, the oilfield contractor, tells the kid to go fly a kite. Eventually, Lund’s character breaks down and starts giving him lessons.

The movie’s director and writer Aaron James says the movie is a story about a 15-year-old and a 50-year-old from the opposite side of the tracks, learning to grow up together over guitar lessons. The film is Lund’s first time playing a lead in a movie. The film also stars well-known Cree actor and comedian Conway Kootenay.

Guitar Lessons was filmed in High Level, Alta., about a year ago. Now, James is busy promoting the film. In a media release, James says they don’t have a distributor, nor a publicist, and goes on to admit they don’t know what they’re doing.

It could be argued they do know what they’re doing. It is difficult for independent small films to get distribution deals with large chain theatres. As an alternative, to the large theatre houses, they’re starting to get some traction in independent theatres. James says the film was released a few weeks ago to one-screen theatres in Alberta and audiences liked it. The film currently has a 9.1 out of 10 rating on IMDB.com.

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James says as small theatres hear about how well the film did in Alberta, they’re getting more calls. Magic Lantern Theatres, owners of the Capitol Theatre in North Battleford picked up the film as well as their Roxy Theatre in Saskatoon.

“The audiences are driving it and people are coming to buy tickets and go look at it.” James adds the movie now has dates in Meadow Lake, Humboldt, and Swift Current.

James says the film involved digital filmmakers in virtually every area of the production.

“Most of our producers on the film are Indigenous. At least half the cast is Indigenous. Probably more than half the crew are Indigenous. And the dialogue in the script we think is at least 20 percent Cree.”

Guitar Lessons opens Friday at The Capitol Theatre in North Battleford. All moviegoers will be entered into a draw to win a Fender guitar. The draw for the guitar will be made after the movie’s run. It will open next week in Meadow Lake.

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Ian.Roach@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @IanRoachSK