Empire of Dirt (2013)
Like many Native families, Lena Mahikan grew up in the cycle of abuse. Her father, a residential school survivor, was an alcoholic until he killed himself when Lena was 10. Her mother, only 14 years her senior, turned to the slots. By the time Lena was 15, she was pregnant and, before giving birth, was kicked to the curb by her mom. The cycle continues and Lena is now watching helplessly as her own daughter, Peeka, spirals out of control, landing herself in the hospital following a drug overdose. As a final attempt at survival, Lena decides to return home and face her own mother and a past she’s desperate to escape.
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Casting arrow_drop_down
Cara Gee
as Lena Mahikan
as Lena Mahikan
Shay Eyre
as Peeka Mahikan
as Peeka Mahikan
Jennifer Podemski
as Minnie Mahikan
as Minnie Mahikan
Luke Kirby
as Russell Carter
as Russell Carter
Jordan Prentice
as Warren Fensky
as Warren Fensky
Michael Cram
as Doc Baker
as Doc Baker
Kate Corbett
as Wendy
as Wendy
Barbara Gordon
as Mrs. Armstrong
as Mrs. Armstrong
Jean Yoon
as Tess
as Tess
Shannon Kook
as Angel
as Angel
Jaiden Mitchell
as Little Wing
as Little Wing
Doug Bedard
as Doug
as Doug
Tonya Williams
as Sandra
as Sandra
Raoul Bhaneja
as Dr. Gaffney
as Dr. Gaffney
Joris Jarsky
as Neil
as Neil
Sarah Manninen
as Anna
as Anna
Lawrence Bayne
as Uncle Hank
as Uncle Hank
Sarah Podemski
as Charmaine
as Charmaine
Tony Nappo
as Fisherman
as Fisherman
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Crew arrow_drop_down
Shannon Masters
Screenplay
Screenplay
Peter Stebbings
Director
Director
Justin Peroff
Music
Music
Jorge Weisz
Editor
Editor
Sara Kay
Casting
Casting
Jenny Lewis
Casting
Casting
Nazgol Goshtasbpour
Production Design
Production Design
Marie-Eve Tremblay
Costume Design
Costume Design
Jennifer Podemski
Producer
Producer
Ciara Vernon
Set Decoration
Set Decoration
Bob Crowe
Producer
Producer
Grace Ng
Art Direction
Art Direction
David Greene
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Maureen Evans
Casting
Casting
Karen Paterson-Bowden
Script Supervisor
Script Supervisor
Geoff Ewart
Co-Producer
Co-Producer
Colin Brunton
Line Producer
Line Producer
Heather K. Dahlstrom
Co-Producer
Co-Producer
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