With the recent slew of school shootings and the hotly debated issue of gun control on the forefront of our current news cycle, WOW PRESENTS PLUS’ release of the short film, Red Lake this week provides a timely and thought-provoking look at a devastating event and recurring problem in our country. Because of its important and relevant content, WOW is presenting the film completely free of charge via the subscription service starting today!
Looking back at the tragic massacre that occurred on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota on March 21st, 2005 (in which a 16-year-old Red Lake High School student killed 9 people including two family members, a security guard, a teacher and five students- before killing himself), filmmaker Billy Luther goes beyond politics to explore the lives of three victims a decade later.
“I made this film because in the conversations we have about these tragedies, Red Lake is always overlooked and forgotten,” Luther explains. “But there are so many survivors who are still healing from this experience. I wanted to see how these survivors were doing ten years later.”
Luther says he wasn’t making a film about the actual events that happened ten years ago, but about the shared experience of healing. “That was important from the very beginning,” he says. “These survivors have been asked over and over about the incident, they didn’t want to tell the same story.”
Indeed, Missy Dodds, a survivor featured in the film (along with students Jeff May and Ashley Lajeunesse, pictured above) says the project marked a big step in her healing process. “I loved the film. When I saw it for the first time, it was exactly how I wanted my story to be told,” she explains. “It is a film of healing and love. Billy did a beautiful job – he captured my story perfectly.”
Luther says his intention was to “open the conversation to doing more about mental health and PTSD, and how there so much to do for survivors of these shootings.” Though the movie doesn’t take a position on gun control, it does make the viewer feel the impact that guns can have- ending lives and changing the lives of those who survive forever.
“I do not have an opinion on gun control,” explains Dodds. “In my situation the guns used were stolen from a police officer. The shooter killed his grandfather who was an officer then stole his guns, his bulletproof vest, and his police vehicle. He then came to the school and used those weapons. My passion lies in school safety and providing mental health to all students.”
Dodds, who currently has three of her own kids in school, says she’s still in therapy from what happened, but that since the movie came out, she’s moved from “victim” to “survivor.” Red Lake helped her find her voice. “I seldom spoke publicly of what happened but I am able to speak out more now… to discuss school safety and to try to help others who have been through shootings to know it’s ok to take the time needed to heal. I hope that is a message one can take from this film, it’s ok to feel what you are feeling and it’s ok to take as long as you need to heal. Everyone’s “Lake” is different – but as long as you are “swimming” (moving) it is ok.”
Luther, who is of Native-American decent, has been moving up as a filmmaker since Red Lake –which was nominated for an IDA award for best documentary short in 2016- debuted on the film fest circuit. He recently launched a web series called alter-NATIVE (following Native American fashion designer Bethany Yellowtail for a year as she launches a new line inspired by her activism) for PBS online, produced by Indie LensStory Cast and World of Wonder Productions.
WOW’s founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato are in agreement: “This is a powerful film that needs to be seen and needs to be seen now!”
“Much coverage of school mass shootings is focused on the event, the victims, the shooter,” Bailey continues. “And after a few months of outrage and ‘thoughts and prayers,’ the coverage subsides. What makes this film so important is that life has not moved on and the wounds have not healed. The film shines a light on the shattered lives and dreams of those who survive and somehow have to find a reason to keep living. The Parkland students have changed the game through their focus and determination, and hopefully this film can contribute to the effort to solve America’s nightmarish gun problem. “
Red Lake is one of many exclusive, award-winning documentaries available for streaming on WOW PRESENTS PLUS. Watch it for free right HERE.
Missy Dodds is one of several Red Lake shooting survivors profiled in a documentary. Dodds was teaching math at Red Lake High School during the time of the shooting.
