French filmmaker Stéphanie Lamorré’s heart-touching documentary on teenage Sherenté Mishitashin is another very welcome contribution to the burgeoning dialogue about the transgender community. Sherenté is a gender-queer Two-Sprit teenager and a member of the Narragansett Tribal Nation in Rhode Island and this is their story.
Lamorré’s very discreet camera captures a very determined and articulate Sherenté as they strive to follow their passion for traditional shawl dancing and at the same time applying for a place at Ivy League Schools. They are blessed with a large loving and very supportive family who are all keen to incorporate all the values and customs of their tribe’s history and place in society. That includes Sherenté’s journey accepting their two-spirit nature.
Outwardly so does the whole tribe in theory, but the reality appears that at some of the tribal dance pow wows Sherenté signs up to participate, there are factions opposed to them competing. It’s all done behind their back, and on one such occasion, we realize that the outwardly strong-willed Sherenté is still a teen and is not oblivious to such shabby treatment.
In tribal and family gatherings we see Sherenté as a passionate well-read and considerate (young) adult who is so full of compassion with a maturity and sensibility way beyond her age. It’s seeing their sheer embracing of life with such joy, a great deal of which is due to her mother’s remarkable support and energy, that fills one’s heart.
No scene spoiler here, but if you fail to burst into tears watching Sherenté and her entire family sitting around the computer on the day that all colleges announce admissions, then there is something wrong with you.
Lamorré shows us an intriguing slice of Native- American life and how it fits into contemporary society, but also how Sherenté is so proud to be part of it, and genderqueer community too.
At one point they say “as an Indigenous, Two-Spirit youth, the most controversial act I ever committed was being myself.” However that may be an understatement in the future, as it is very obvious from the film, this is the last we have heard of Sherenté
Being Thunder is being screened at Inside Out and Frameline Film Festivals 