For the first time I went to the Melbourne International Film Festival, and I was not disappointed. I was tasked with finding a controversial film, that happened to be Free Leonard Peltier.
Leonard was imprisoned for 50 odd years for the murder of two FBI agents; he was accused of shooting them point blank but has always pleaded his innocence.
The documentary is about his fight for freedom, but the beginnings of the movie spell out a narrative of token politics of an uprising of Native Americans fighting for rights. It paints a narrative of being surrounded on their homelands and shot at by up to 100 FBI agents. It paints a picture of how one corrupted Native American caused so much trouble for an otherwise united community, siding with the FBI and setting up a rogue taskforce to fight his own. It reminded me of issues back home. How we had the Vote on the Voice a couple of years ago and how Jacinta Price had an opposing voice and a very loud and powerful one too.
So much of Free Leonard Peltier reflected on issues currently throughout the World. I discussed these issues with the Emmy award documentary director Jesse Short Antoine Bull.
We also discussed the relation to spirit and how a bald eagle appeared twice in Leonard Peltier’s story, once at the beginning, when they all asked for guidance to escape being killed by the FBI. Secondly an eagle appeared on the day Leonard was pardoned by the government earlier this year. Jesse expressed how odd it was to see a bald eagle in Florida and at the jail location.
Free Leonard Peltier won’t leave a dry eye in your household and although somewhat heavy and serious educational content, the people interviewed in this film can be lighthearted despite, so there is sprinkles of laughter throughout.
Your town can host a screening via the Free Leonard Peltier film website at Host a Screening – Free Leonard Peltier | 2025 Documentary Film Directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France
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