Nightstream Film Festival (NFF) – Allegory and heavy-handed metaphors stall the meaningful message of Clearcut – a cautionary tale about logging, industry, and colonization. Brutal, sadistic torture lays a dark but necessary swath over a tale of a misguided but well-meaning lawyer, Peter Maguire (Ron Lea) who has just lost the case against a logging company planning to clearcut Ojibwe land. Arthur (Graham Greene) chooses to take matters into his own hands, taking Maguire and industrialist Bud Rickets (Michael Hogan) on a brutal, bloody journey, showing the men what they do to his land, in violent blows.

Mysterious Arthur is vengeful – and rightly so. In a strange parallel to modern times, the Native American land is being stolen from underneath them, and destroyed by a thousand papercuts (or chainsaws). Arthur chooses to brutally show the men what his land goes through, all while intimidating and reminding them that they are not as superior as they may assume. Maguire is a hapless victim of Arthur’s rage – as he really did try his best to win the case – but his reputation as a white man, who sees fit to speak for the indigenous leaders, unfortunately colors their view of his good intentions.

The heavy brutality of this film is necessary and well earned – but would also take most viewers out of the intentions and message of Clearcut. The painting of Arthur as what some would call a “savage” dilutes his mission – and unfortunately plays into ugly stereotypes. His rage is meaningful and insightful, and not without intense merit, but most viewers will not see it that way. Not unlike violent protests held on behalf of George Floyd, naysayers will probably find every reason NOT to see the reason and truth behind the film. Sadly, those people are the people who need to hear it most. 

There’s an underlying theme of Ojibwe and Cree legends, including that of Wisakedjak (bastardized by modern interpretations as “Whiskey Jack”) – the trickster, deceiver, and transformer God, probably most closely compared to Loki in Norse mythology. The character of Arthur may in fact be Wisakedjak, and such is alluded by Wilf (Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman) throughout the film, though most would miss this subtle detail without knowing the legend prior, which also falls sadly short for most American audiences.

Overall, Clearcut SHOULD be required viewing for all Americans, including South America and our neighbors to the North – as we are all guilty of the crimes Arthur accuses us of, and we all deserve a little bit of Arthur’s vengeful rage.

Clearcut reviewed as part of our Nightstream Film Festival (NFF) coverage.

8 out of 10