-Written by Kyle Bain.
2024 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
The Red Lake Warriors is a high school football team that has held onto one of the most impressive streaks I’ve ever seen. It’s been two decades since the team won its last game, since they’ve really competed against any of the other local teams. Through the Storm tells the story of the hardworking young men of Red Lake High School, and their dedicated coach, Nolan Desjarlait, as they traverse the murky waters of losing. They have each other's backs, but is that enough to end this heartbreaking streak?
First of all, how does a group of high school students show up day in and day out when they know that their hopes of truly competing during football games are slim? I can remember struggling as a soccer player in high school, knowing that, despite our record, we were talented enough to win games. Yet, we never got the results that we had hoped for. I remember running to my mother on the sideline at halftime and saying, very simply, “I’m tired of losing.” This was junior varsity soccer, games that, while they meant a lot to me at the time, didn’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things–but the pain of losing resonated with me. We eventually cleared the hurdle of putting a win under our belts–and it was finally worth it.
I get how that eventual win is motivation to keep showing up. That the person standing next to you can be enough for you to care about whether or not you give your best effort. However, Through the Storm depicts the troubles of a team that loses on an epic scale. Most of their games aren’t close, and most of the time, given the size of their football team, they are subjected to playing both offense and defense throughout the course of their games. Their struggles in this regard are far more trying than what I experienced in high school–and yet, the majority of them keep showing up.
These students are motivational. That’s the tone of Through the Storm–as Directors Fritz Bitsoie and Charles Frank do all that they can to express to the world the fighters present in this short documentary. Spoiler alert: the Warriors still haven’t won a game. Not during the documentary, and not after. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with what they endure each and every day, and they still show up, they still put their best foot forward, they still motivate those around them.
The purpose of Through the Storm is to motivate, but more importantly, I think that Bitsoie and Frank are looking to ensure that the students of Red Lake High School, particularly those on the football team, are given the recognition they deserve. Should they be awarded participation trophies just because they show up? No. But what they represent is something that isn’t often seen in the real world. Through the Storm beautifully brings to life their stories, their struggles, and the fact that each and every one of them has a bright future ahead.
Directed by Fritz Bitsoie & Charles Frank.
Starring Nolan Desjarlait, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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