This May Be the Last Time

This May Be the Last Time
Film poster
Directed bySterlin Harjo
Produced bySterlin Harjo
Christina D. King
Matt Leach
CinematographySterlin Harjo
Shane Brown
Matt Leach
Edited byMatt Leach
Music byRyan Beveridge
Distributed bySundance Channel
Release date
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Mvskoke

This May Be the Last Time is a 2014 American documentary film produced and directed by Sterlin Harjo.[1] The film had its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.[2]

After its premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Channel acquired the distribution rights of the film. The film received its TV premiere in spring 2014.[3]

Synopsis

The film narrates that when in 1962 Pete Harjo, the director's grandfather, mysteriously went missing after his car crashed on a rural bridge in Sasakwa, Oklahoma, members of his Seminole and Muscogee community searched for him while singing songs of faith and hope that had been passed on for generations, with roots in both Scottish hymn lining and African American music. Harjo interviews family members and locals, as well as academic experts on the subject including the Yale professor Willie Ruff and Rogers State University's Hugh Foley.[4]

Reception

This May Be the Last Time received positive reviews from critics. Guy Lodge of Variety said in his review, "Filtering painstaking research on the evolution of Creek Nation hymns through a tragic narrative from Harjo's family history, the director's first nonfiction feature is artful and illuminating."[5] Justin Lowe in his review for The Hollywood Reporter praised the film by saying, "The mystery of Pete Harjo’s disappearance turns out to be somewhat more prosaic, although Harjo plays out developments in the missing-person search skillfully enough to maintain interest, much in the storytelling tradition of his tribal elders."[6]

Amanda Rock in her review for Slug magazine, wrote, "This film gives insight into a small community that supported each other through a difficult time, both physically and spiritually."[7]

References

  1. ^ Brandy McDonnell (December 30, 2013). "American Indian music documentary "This May Be the Last Time" to premiere at Sundance Film Festival". NewsOK. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
    - Stephanie Lacy (January 24, 2014). "#Cougsatsundance: 'This may be the last time'". The Daily Universe. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  2. ^ "Sundance 2014: Documentary Premieres". Indiewire. January 10, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
    - "Sundance trailer of the day: 'This May Be the Last Time' [video]". Salt Lake Tribune. January 13, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  3. ^ John Hopewell (January 23, 2014). "Sundance: AMC/Sundance Channel Global Swoops on Six Sundance Titles". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
    - Guy Lodge (February 4, 2014). "Film Review: 'This May Be the Last Time'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Shannon, Susan (November 17, 2014). "Muscogee Creek Hymns Influenced By Congregational Line Singing?". KGOU. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Guy Lodge (February 4, 2014). "Film Review: 'This May Be the Last Time'". Variety. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Justin Loweaccess (January 28, 2014). "This May Be the Last Time: Sundance Review". Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  7. ^ Amanda Rock (January 24, 2014). "SUNDANCE FILM REVIEW: THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME". Slug. Retrieved May 7, 2014.