Fri Feb 24, 2023 – 5:00 pm | Downtown Beloit Association
Sat Feb 25, 2023 – 7:30 pm | Downtown Beloit Association
Sat Feb 25, 2023 – 7:30 pm | Downtown Beloit Association
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Big Crow
Directed by Kris Kaczor
Documentary Feature
United States | 69 min | 2021
“Big Crow” is a story about the power of hope in the most destitute place in America – South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. By age fourteen, SuAnne Big Crow had become one of the state’s best basketball players. By age seventeen, her wisdom, leadership, and determination had made her a household name across the Great Plains. Thirty years after her tragic death, SuAnne’s spirit has proven legendary; everyone you meet on “the Rez” has a story about how SuAnne’s pride in her people continues to galvanize the Lakota in their fight to reclaim their language and save their culture.
Through never-before-seen VHS coverage of her games and home videos and extensive interviews, we examine who SuAnne was on and off the court. “Big Crow” chronicles how this young Lakota leader crossed racial divides to propel her culture into a better tomorrow. We see SuAnne’s continued influence on her alma mater, the 2018-2019 Pine Ridge Lady Thorpes, as they fight for another Class A state championship. One current player is said to play just like SuAnne. On the Rez and on the court, everybody’s looking for the next SuAnne. Will we find her?
News & Reviews
AWARDS
Winner of the People’s Choice Award
Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), 2021
The Best Feature Documentary Award
Indy Film Fest, 2022
The Cercle d’or for Best Feature Documentary Award
Sherbrooke World Film Festival, 2022
The Grand Prix Documentary Award
Rising Sun International Film Festival, 2022
The Silver Award for Best Feature Documentary
Tokyo Film Awards, 2022
The Dr. Sydney K. Shapiro Humanitarian Award
Phoenix Film Festival, 2022
The Best Editing of a Documentary Award
Madrid International Film Festival, 2022
The Excellence in Editing Award
Docs Without Borders Film Festival, 2022
The Best Editing Award
Brussels World Film Festival, 2022
REVIEWS
“Truly a rare moment in Cinema… This film is a marvel”
Mélikah Abdelmoumen & Marc Béland, CBC Radio Canada
“An Exquisite Gem. Tenderness, wonder, & dignity…
a beautiful film about beautiful people”
Richard Propes, The Independent Critic
“Anyone who watches Dear Audrey will undoubtedly conclude
that Hayes is a masterful filmmaker”
Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight
“Touching… luminous… truly magnificent”
Caroline Levesque, CBC Radio Canada
“Dear Audrey, a riveting documentary…
that stands as a powerful paean to passion and perseverance”
Evelyn C White, The Halifax Examiner
“…so many amazing lessons, stories, emotions with pain
and celebration intertwined”
Darren Wiesner, Hollywood North Magazine
“It’s impossible to watch this documentary, (a People’s Choice Award winner), without being overwhelmed by its sweetness and generosity”
Silvia Galipeau, La Press
“…an at once ethereal reflection on the enduring power of love,
and unblinking revelation of life’s steel-cold realities”
Chris Cook, Gorilla Radio
“The central force of Dear Audrey is the eternal, almost implacable force of love that binds people together through the most difficult times”
Dorothy Woodend, The Tyee
“Dear Audrey celebrates the very best the human heart has to offer, with such compassion, artistry and grace”
Terre Nash, Oscar-winning director
“A Stunning Love Story You Won’t Soon Forget!”
Indy Film Fest
“This love story will bring you joy, hope, tears and humility…”
Dr. Jen Hammersmark, Mind Your Madness
“…a beautiful homage to Audrey, to the couple’s
love and their family”
Nantali Indongo, CBC Radio
“Beautiful, touching … ‘Dear Audrey’ is a testament to
what Audrey was and what she remains forever”
Rob Wilson, The Bobr Times
“Poignant and could not be more authentic”
Amandine de Chanteloup, Le Collectif
Director Statement
About a decade ago I was reading Ian Frazier’s book “On the Rez” and a single passage haunted me since. “I had thought that Oglala heroes existed mostly in the past. But a true Oglala hero appeared in the late 1980s, in suffering Pine Ridge, right under everyone’s nose, while the rest of the world was looking the other way: SuAnne Big Crow.”
Heroes are hard to come by and many are lost to history. SuAnne Big Crow was a high school basketball star in the 80’s, who wanted to help save her dying culture. In our time spent with the Lakota, we discovered the profound depth of this untold story. SuAnne is a modern-day hero and source of hope to her Native people. This film is the result of eight years of working with and gaining the trust of the Oglala Lakota. The intention is to continue her message and memory, in service of preserving their sacred culture.
Kris Kaczor
Director
Kris Kaczor is a Brooklyn-based documentary filmmaker focused on unlikely heroes. A graduate of The Motion Picture Institute of Michigan, Kaczor’s directorial debut “Divide In Concord” won Best of HotDocs, was championed by filmmaker Michael Moore, and continues to air nationally on PBS. He is currently the director of photography for Ron Howard’s latest documentary on José Andres and World Central Kitchen.
Film Information
Director: Kris Kaczor
Country: United States
Year: 2021
Language: English
Runtime: 69 min
Rated: PG-13
Credits
Producer: Walter Matteson, Kevin Bayson, Inila Wakan
Writer: Inila Wakan
Key Cast: Chick Big Crow, Cecelia Big Crow, Tiny DeCory, Doni DeCory, Rayette Provost, SuAnne Big Crow, Bryan Brewer, Joel Thunderhawk, Shayla Bravo, Chancey Witt, Toby Carlow
