Movie Review: “The Birds Who Fear Death” – A familiar tale of Family, Heritage, and Redemption.

Some stories feel timeless, yet risk becoming cliché. However, it’s always refreshing to experience a new perspective on familiar narratives. Writer and director Sanjay Patel delivers exactly that in his latest feature film “The Birds Who Fear Death.”

This is a beautifully made indie film that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries, breathing new life into the very familiar tale of family, heritage, and belonging.

The film follows brothers Adam (played by Adam Beach) and Ryan (played by Simon Baker), who are grappling with financial troubles while trying to save their late mother’s restaurant. They believe it is this same restaurant that led to William, their ailing father’s financial success.

When their father passes away, the brothers discover that he has willed his entire estate to the people of Bird, a rural Indigenous hamlet in Northern Canada.

This shocking revelation propels the siblings on a journey to Bird, to attempt to convince the community’s Chief, Ed Whitford (played by Graham Greene), to disclaim the inheritance or at least share it with them.

The story that “The Birds Who Fear Death” tells is layered with the exploration of identity and the cultural clash between the brothers’ modern lives and their father’s cultural roots.

As Adam and Ryan delve deeper into the town’s history and their father’s past, they learn that William was viewed by many of the townsfolk as a traitor. Someone who sold out his people to enrich himself, aiding the encroachment of manufacturing companies that took over their land. The inheritance, now willed to the community, is seen by many as William’s act of redemption, a final penance for the guilt he carried before his death.

Adam Beach and Simon Baker are flawless in their portrayal of the brothers who are not only disconnected from their father but from their own heritage. Adam’s character, a former basketball prospect, holds deep resentment toward William for thwarting his dreams by turning away scouts. Yet, even with this resentment, Adam’s desire for the inheritance remains strong. It almost feels like an entitlement or perhaps a compensation he believes he deserves for how their father might have handled his dreams and what could have been his career.

On the other hand, Ryan the younger of the two feels some guilt for not them not being by their father’s side when passed. He also doesn’t seem to resent him that much but still believes that they had been treated unfairly by William.

As the story progresses, the film unravels the brothers’ emotional journey. They begin to learn more about their father’s legacy and the land they had never truly felt connected to. Through their interactions with some of the people of Bird, they slowly realize that their father’s actions, while flawed, were driven by a desire to better the lives of his community. Things get a bit high stakes as they are running out of time to get the money they need to pay for the restaurant and they risk losing their downpayment as well. Also, some of the town folk have more interest in the inheritance than usual and that puts them even in more higher risk.

One of the aspects of “The Birds Who Fear Death” that you can’t overlook is its visual storytelling. The film shifts from the bustling commercial suburbs of Toronto to the serene, and beautiful landscape of Bird. Despite the contrast in locations, the film maintains its impressive cinematography. The small hamlet is surrounded by rivers and vegetation, providing breathtaking visuals that highlight the sacred connection the Indigenous people have with the land.

Also, the beauty emphasizes the negative impacts of industrialization and commerce might be having on the land and its people who are getting infected by pollution-related ailments.

At the heart of the film is a sentiment echoed in a powerful quote by Mary Brave Bird that is shared at the opening of the film, “The land is sacred. These words are at the core of your being. The land is our mother, the rivers our blood. Take our land away and we die. That is, the Indian in us dies.”  Sanjay Patel‘s writing and direction do not treat this story as a historical conflict but as a modern issue, one that speaks to the ongoing struggles Indigenous communities face regarding land and industrial exploitation.

The film’s exploration of brotherhood, money, greed, and the painful disconnection from one’s roots feels universally relatable. Whether you have Indigenous heritage or not, these themes hit home for anyone who has ever struggled with family ties, personal identity, or societal expectations.

And while this might feel like a very familiar narrative for many Sanjay Patel‘s fresh perspective makes it a compelling watch. The film balances its emotional core with the journey of discovery that the brothers take while never losing sight of the broader cultural issues it tackles.

I’d give this film a solid 7 out of 10. It’s heartfelt, beautifully made and carries a much deeper meaning than we may ever realize.