Combining interviews and live cinema, Rising Through the Fray plunges us into the heart of Indigenous Rising Roller Derby, the first international team to bring together Indigenous players from several countries. For Sour Cherry, Krispy, Hawaiian Blaze, and their teammates, the sport becomes much more than a competition. Through it, they find a space for sisterhood, resilience, acceptance, and healing. On camera, they share intimate stories not only of being uprooted and the wounds of intergenerational trauma, but also of reconnecting with their culture and of the relief of finding a community. In this powerful, feminist documentary, these women assert their right to exist on their own terms. (MES)
Through the deeply intimate lens of three teammates Sour Cherry, Krispy and Hawaiian Blaze, each living in different parts of North America, they share personal stories of displacement and disconnection from their Indigenous communities and identities and the profound meaning and impact of belonging on Team Indigenous Rising in their journeys to reconnection.

Set against the hard-hitting, fast-paced world of roller derby, the film goes on an intimate and captivating journey with Indigenous Rising as they unite community and find acceptance in the sport they love.

Co-presented with the Librairie l'Euguélionne

Quebec Premiere

Rising Through the Fray