Running since 1999, Crazy8s is an annual 8-day short filmmaking challenge providing support and funding to 6 emerging and mid-career filmmakers to produce a short film and provides training opportunities to crew and cast. After a Gala Screening and Afterparty, the films go on to be seen by audiences worldwide at film festivals and on other distribution channels.
Crazy 8 shorts are like a box of chocolates as in Forest Gumpian fashion you never quite know what you will get but you know it will be sweet.
W7éyle (Moon’s Wife) is as good as a syrupy cherry enclosed in milk chocolate.
An indigenous Secwépemc woman (Grace Dove) recounts the story of the Moon’s Wife to her lover Greg (William Belleau). This Indigenous tale has the Moon’s lover journey far into the sky to be with the Moon but an argument ensues between them and the Moon affixes her to the moon where she laments her inability to return to her people. A tragedy is only a tragedy if a culture places importance of being with your fellow humans.
Greg fails to comprehend the woman’s lament that living forever and being stuck on the moon would deprive her of being with her people. She respects the cycle of life from birth to death and sees death as an opportunity to be amongst her ancestors not an occurrence to be fearful of.
On the market there is an immortality pill which Greg believes will enable him and the woman to be together forever. She is no advocate of the Ethical Suicide Parlour but perhaps more of a Billy the Poet contemplated in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Welcome to the Monkey House” as she views death as part of the cycle of life which she embraces at least in theory. But offered this immortality pill what is her choice?
An intriguing melding of science fiction and fantasy with Indigenous culture. No cultural hard sell here but highly effective and entertaining.
Directed and written by Amanda Wandler.
Watch the trailer here https://crazy8s.film/films/w7eyle-moons-wife/
Screening at the Crazy8’s gala in Vancouver 29March2025.
RKS 2025 CANADIAN Short Film Rating 92/100.
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