Loading film…
Sunset Special
A young Diné woman struggles with the process of burying her recently deceased father on the reservation. The cultural Diné taboo surrounding death keeps her from properly grieving as it has been overrun by funeral homes and mortuaries preying on the vulnerable. She envisions a newer and ancient way of respectfully laying her father to rest while grappling with the realities of a quick talking casket salesman.
Topics Covered
Addiction, Grief and Loss, Racism
Content Heads Up
Depiction of the loss of a father, misogyny, strong language
Representation
Indigenous, Woman / female, Adult
Film Style
Drama
Marlena Robbins
Marlena Robbin is Diné (Navajo), and holds a master’s in American Indian Studies from Arizona State University. A tribal liaison and cultural consultant, she’s involved in projects like Rez Ball and Sunset Special. Currently, she’s a doctoral student at UC Berkeley.
David Telles
Mr. Telles, a Chicano filmmaker from Oakland, CA, began in documentary and music videos. As a writer/director, he creates decolonized, socially conscious stories that challenge the status quo, influenced by his roots in Bay Area rap and documentary filmmaking.
