Deep Inside Clint Star is an intimate picture of Indigiqueer youth from a voice gone too soon

This is part of a series of essays in response to our recent project CBC Arts Presents: The 50 Greatest Films Directed by Canadians. We asked writers to choose a Canadian-directed film that they believe should have been included — particularly ones that fill the representational gaps in Canada's film history — and tell us why it deserves to be there.

Note: Leena Minifie works as a marketing manager at the National Film Board of Canada, but was not involved in the production or promotion of Deep Inside Clint Star.

Fleeting moments that are all too real are bundled together in Deep Inside Clint Star, a contemporary identity documentary hidden in an alt-rock-erotic-exposition of director Clint Alberta's shadow self.

This Indigiqueer film, released in 1999 through NFB's North West Studio, captures a moment in history that can never be replicated. Like a moving Polaroid exploring the 90s urban Indigenous experience, it's cheeky, raw, and in the moment. Awkward honesty and unbridled humanity are illuminated through candid conversations with Indigenous friends, colleagues, and kindred spirits he meets on his journey. 

Directed by Clint Alberta (who played with personas and also went by the names Clint Morrill, Clint Tourangeau, and Jules Karatechamp at different points in his life), the film almost acts as a side-view mirror snapshot of the future — precocious but unpretentious. In just under an hour and a half, the groundbreaking documentary takes the viewer through Canadian urban landscapes, exploring Indigenous identity struggles, sexuality, and the intricacies of modern existence through the eyes of the director's alter ego Clint Star.

Watching it as an Indigenous youth within Alberta's urban landscape, straddling the spectrum of queerness, the poignant film resonated with me deeply. Shedding light on the intricate navigation of identities and resilience among peers and colleagues, it offered validation through its unflinching portrayal of diverse Indigenous experiences that are often hidden or marginalized.

The revelation that the film was shot in Edmonton, where I lived, amplified its impact on me personally; so did encountering it at the age of 20, when I could relate to the people in the film. Cinematically, it inspired a profound shift in my perspective on documentaries and showed me the art of skilfully breaking classic documentary conventions.

The film's power lies in Clint's unique perspective as a queer filmmaker and the way he weaves narratives from the tapestry of his Dene and Euro-Canadian lineage on the Prairies. He documents the unfiltered perspectives of Indigenous youth and adults as they navigate the entanglement of identity and the pursuit of sexual liberation after centuries of oppression. He brings audiences along for the exhilarating ride, a poignant and at times humorous romp that feels like a thirsty punk rock road-trip. 

In Deep Inside Clint Star, captivating conversations with five of Clint's friends shed light on sex, love, abuse, and how "500 years of historical colonialism" have impacted the way Indigenous people see themselves and search for love. These characters share their stories with courage and grace, offering a genuine and unfiltered look into their lives, their personal challenges laid bare in celebration of their resilience.

Through the lens of sexuality and identity, the film masterfully unveils the barriers, confusion, and discrimination Indigenous people contended with in Canada during the 90s. "When they called me these names, it's like they made me magic because I was part of something bigger than me," he says in the film, holding up the sense of belonging he gained in not belonging. Diving headfirst into these interviews with his social circle, he unravels tales of their intimate identities both racial and sexual.

The film's aesthetic throws back to vintage MTV or MuchMusic, bringing together unpolished visuals that include black-and-white footage, time-lapse sequences, Super 8, and MiniDV clips. The mosaic-like editing approach and hard Dutch angles are reminiscent of early music videos, embodying the multifaceted nature of the subjects' experiences. One of the most endearing aspects of Deep Inside Clint Star is its timeless quality. 

Sadly, after watching the film, the craving to enjoy more of Clint's work is thwarted by a limited filmography. His final film, Miss 501: A Portrait of Luck, in 2002, follows the journey of a sweet, slightly paunchy, semi-retired drag queen who's determined to win the contest at Toronto's Bar 501 on Church Street. The director died by suicide just one month after the film's premiere at Sundance.

The void left in Indigenous cinema by Clint's passing was felt deeply, and his untimely death offered further commentary on the complexities of the challenges he faced, the weight of his creative contribution, and the emotionality and tenderness with which he saw the world — something he shared in his films. 

This film shares a voice we will sadly never hear again, laughter echoing the joy of a truly gifted filmmaker. An untraditional artistic creation as part of Canada's documentary history, Deep Inside Clint Star blends themes of identity, culture, and human resilience. It reminds us of the power and intimacy of gritty, edgy, and uncensored conversations with your closest friends.

Those fleeting talks with our peers hold a mirror to our inner child that needs attention, excavating our deepest thoughts and exposing our inner sirens. This documentary is a phone call you don't want to hang up on while the cordless phone beeps and disconnects you from a moment in time that can never be retrieved.

Watch Deep Inside Clint Star for free via the NFB.