How I'll miss you, @tripgore.
— Devery Jacobs (@kdeveryjacobs) October 13, 2022
Beautifully stubborn ’til the very end, Jeff Barnaby was bold in his life and his work. He bore a sensitivity, poignancy and depth within him, that translated through his films and resonated with audiences Indigenous and non-Native alike. pic.twitter.com/Ha9cV5VBRG
Jeff Barnaby, who opened a lot of eyes with his first 2 full-length feature films, has died at the age of 46. The writer and director of Rhymes for Young Ghouls and Blood Quantum had reportedly a yearlong battle with cancer.
We mentioned Barnaby as someone who could have take over and done a second season of Trickster for the CBC. A devastating loss to film, Canadian film, and especially Indigenous portrayals on screen.
There was a bit of hype for Rhymes for Young Ghouls, which turned out to be worth the hype. Blood Quantum took 13 years to make yet the timing was rich to come out in a pandemic.
Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs, TIFF Rising Star 2018, got her first leading role in Rhymes for Young Ghouls. Jacobs also was in Blood Quantum.
"Beautifully stubborn 'til the very end, Jeff Barnaby was bold in his life and his work. He bore a sensitivity, poignancy and depth within him, that translated through his films and resonated with audiences Indigenous and non-Native alike," Jacobs was quoted as saying in a media release.
Canadian film review: Blood Quantum
Canadian film review: Rhymes for Young Ghouls
Canadian films that might explain a bit about the world of residential schools
Barnaby also did 3 short films earlier in his career: From Cherry English (2004), The Colony (2007), and File Under Miscellaneous (2010).
We run through a lot of up and coming Canadian filmmakers. Few of them have the energy and attention Barnaby put into his work. My desire to see Blood Quantum was based on consuming Rhymes for Young Ghouls. That doesn't happen often enough in the Canadian film world.
To the point Jacobs made, Barnaby's films had the ability to tell authentic Indigenous stories in ways that transcended who was in the audience. Blood Quantum was a zombie film on one level while telling multiple stories below that line.
We should have had so many more films from Jeff Barnaby. Rhymes for Young Ghouls, Blood Quantum and his short films showed an artist powered by a blazing fire. He understood horror on its deepest levels. Such a shock. RIP. pic.twitter.com/qgILv4aieq
— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) October 13, 2022
Michael Greyeyes, currently starring in the U.S. show Rutherford Falls, won Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Blood Quantum. The film received 10 Canadian Screen Awards in 2021 and won 7 CSAs. Other wins came for art direction/production design, costume design, editing, makeup, visual effects, and stunt coordination. Barnaby received a nomination for original screenplay. Other nominations came for cinematography and casting.
Jacobs was nominated for Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards.
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If you haven't seen either of Jeff Barnaby's two films, now is the time. BLOOD QUANTUM is available on-demand, and RHYMES FOR YOUNG GHOULS is streaming on @cbcgem. https://t.co/pwNxfbeb6U
— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) October 13, 2022
We do spend a bit of time on this blog to encourage people to watch more Canadian film. Watch these films to see an amazing filmmaker and storyteller in motion.
Barry Hertz from The Globe and Mail pointed out options in Canada. In the United States, Rhymes for Young Ghouls is on Tubi and Blood Quantum is on AMC+. Halloween is coming soon and Blood Quantum should be on that list.
Twitter captures: @kdeveryjacobs; @cameron_tiff; @HertzBarry
photo credit: @cameron_tiff
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