Director Sanjay Patel takes us on an eye-opening trip to Canada’s indigenous territories in his sophomore feature.

Adam Beach and Simon Baker play Adam and Ryan, two brothers waiting for their estranged father to die so that they can use his wealth in order to buy their mother’s former restaurant. When he dies, they discover to their fury that they have been left out of the will, and that his fortune has gone to BIRD, an indigenous community in Northern Canada. Travelling from the big city to the community, they plan to negotiate with the ailing chief (Graham Greene) to disclaim part of the estate, to prevent contesting it in court. However, once they arrive, they learn about their father’s legacy, and the impact that the oil and gas industry has had on their people.

The film packs a lot into 100 minutes, ruminating on modern indigenous people and the push-pull between heritage and modern life. It also discusses corporate and personal greed, showing how many characters are willing to compromise their principles when a lot of cash is on the line. It’s an intriguing perspective, forgoing a good vs evil narrative, and instead looking at how wealth can corrupt, and who gets the blame when people start to get sick. Considering the constraints of independent film, Patel and cinematographer Charles Hamilton achieve shots that have the grandeur of a much larger production, taking full advantage of the forests and rivers that surround them. It’s a beautiful way to frame a very thoughtful film.

Beach and Baker are a loveable duo, with Adam’s foul-mouthed bluster being tempered by Ryan’s moderate approach. Although established as spoiled and entitled at the beginning, there is a good heart at the centre of both performances, which makes you keen to see where the road takes them next. Carmen Moore and Tanya Beatty impress as their respective love interests – an activist who opens Adam’s eyes to his culture, and a single mother with a sick child, both of whom win Ryan’s heart. Again, both romantic subplots take unexpected directions, developing both men as characters, rather than being a happy ending in waiting.

Offering a surprise twist in the third act that will prompt some discussion, The Birds Who Fear Death takes the framework of a road movie and creates something much more substantial. Definitely worth a viewing.

The Birds Who Fear Death premiered at the Calgary Film Festival.