2022 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
The Cleveland Indians are no more, and the symbol of Chief Wahoo has been retired from Major League Baseball (MLB). This logo didn’t just come to be, however–and the history of the storied baseball franchise is long and full of adversity. Deerfoot of the Diamond dives into that adversity, the history of the team, and the inclusion Native American players in the sport–beginning with Louis Sockalexis, the first minority ever to take part in the MLB.
It becomes clear in the opening moments of Deerfoot of the Diamond that viewers are in for an interesting journey that will marry a series of ideas and genres. From sports to politics, and race to human rights, Deerfoot of the Diamond explores the history of Sockalexis in its entirety–and it uses a series of hot topics to invite viewers into the film and keep them engaged throughout.
This is a smart and intriguing way to get viewers involved in the film, and it never fails to continue to provide new ways for the world to appreciate what Deerfoot of the Diamond has to say. With popular topics like politics and race in America being a massive part of this short documentary, it’s easy for modern audiences to find something to latch onto–and with baseball essentially being the most prominent aspect of the film, sports fans instantly have something intriguing to focus on. There are layers to this short film, and, considering that the film is so short, Director Lance Edmands does a wonderful job of incorporating these many aspects–some that often have the potential to conflict with one another. Nothing seems to drown out the others, and they all manage to flow smoothly, intertwined beautifully throughout.
A major part of any documentary is how well the subjects of the film are able to present information to the viewers. I’ve seen documentaries where the individuals sitting in front of the camera lack personality, and they struggle to relay information because they are simply boring. I’ve also seen some when the subjects are too animated, and the information feels fabricated and unrelatable as a result. Deerfoot of the Diamond employs a series of individuals that know how to present information–much like a good teacher. They engage the viewers, and they keep them interested throughout the course of the film. They manage to be both entertaining and informative, which, as a teacher, I can tell you is not always easy. However, they manage to find an incredible balance throughout the course of Deerfoot of the Diamond, and that’s simply great for the film.
Deerfoot of the Diamond is a loaded film–and it crams a lot of information into a very short documentary. This much information could have thrown viewers for a loop if not constructed in the right way, but Edmands knows how to lay out his film without having his viewers go into system overload. Deerfoot of the Diamond transitions smoothly from topic to topic, and does an even better job of seeing them merge to create something, again, both entertaining and informative.
Directed by Lance Edmands.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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