Heather Rae, the director and producer, poured herself into this movie, compiling over a decade of research and interviews about John Trudell. As a fan of Trudell's, I have waited a long time for someone to put the puzzling pieces of his life together--a daunting task for anyone to tackle. The Movie gives us a glimpse into his powerful past and how through his writing, he survived the terrible losses of his wife, children, and close friends. There is, no doubt, a mystery that surrounds the one and only Graffiti Man, but thanks to the archived footage, news stories and broadcasts from the 1960s and 1970s, coupled with photos and interviews of Trudell and the people who know him, we learn what compels the activist/artist/actor to create. The historic scenes depicting Trudell's involvement with the American Indian Movement and his remembrance of his wife, Tina, are just a few of the frames that are overlaid with the poetry of Trudell, the guitars of Jessie Ed Davis and Mark Shark, and the traditional singing of Quiltman. Everything you always wanted to know about Trudell, but were afraid to ask--the answers are right here!
