Being Thunder
Sherenté, a Two Spirit Genderqueer teenager from Rhode Island's Narragansett tribe performs in dance competitions at annual regional powwows of New England tribes. There is no formal rule which prohibits Two Spirit Genderqueer people from competing in a category different from their birth gender. Wearing female fancy shawl regalia, Sherenté dances with joy and beauty. Behind the scenes, tribal leaders manipulate Sherenté's scores or disqualify them outright because of their belief in traditional binary gender roles. Blindsided by ongoing dishonesty and deception, Sherenté continues to perform in spite of insensitive behavior by tribal leaders and others in their community. Sherenté's enduring courage and self-respect are met with an outpouring of support from family, powwow attendees, and fellow competitors.
"A moving and deeply affecting portrait of an indigenous Two Spirit teenager." - Dana Aliya Levnison, GLAAD
"This film is moving, powerful, and beautifully shot, but the most important thing it has to offer is its lesson for all of us: that our kids, especially kids like Sherenté, can teach us more about empathy and history than we ever hoped to know. Highly Recommended." - The Sound View
"Lamorre eschews traditional one-on-one interviews, letting the story flow in a more meaningful way. The LGBTQ documentary would work in academic libraries, on shelves for high school or college students studying indigenous cultures, as well as those fascinated by issues of gender and sexual identity." - Video Librarian
"Even though many Native American tribes accept Two-Spirit souls, the film shows that gender non-conforming people face discrimination in indigenous communities....The film not only shows Sherenté’s frustration about the discrimination but also shows her talents as a young activist where in several scenes she speaks passionately at various demonstrations...There are not many videos on Two-Spirit people and with the work that colleges and universities are doing to support DEI and social justice this fit perfectly. Recommended. - EMRO
Cast
- Sherente Harris
DVD Features
Bonus Features:
Additional interviews with Sherenté and parents Eleanor and Thawn Harris.
Sound: 2.0 Stereo
Discs: 1
- "Sherente's story is revelatory and powerful. A must-see."
- "There are still vanishingly few films which touch on Native American issues at all so this has significant value...."
- "Being Thunder is a welcome and insightful portrait of Two-Spiritedness that uses Sherenté’s openness and resilience to explore a facet of both the rainbow and Indigenous culture that remains under-examined in film and media. Sherenté provides a worthy role model for queer youths."
- "While many Native American tribes embrace Two-spirit souls, the indigenous term for people who embody both masculine and feminine qualities, the moving documentary “Being Thunder” shows that gender expansive people face as much discrimination in indigenous communities as they do in other parts of society. "
- "Being Thunder is a meditative, unintrusive documentary about a courageous Indigenous teenager who unapologetically strives for greatness against all types of resistance."
- "It's an impressive depiction of the culture, as well as a powerful exploration of a range of urgent themes."
- " There’s color and diversity and joy in a doc that looks forward into the future."
Gallery
Awards & Recognition
Inside Out Film Festival
Frameline
NewFest
American Indian Film Festival
Jury Award – Honorable Mention Documentary Feature
Durango Film: An Independent Film Festival
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