Documentaries are not always entertaining—sometimes they just show us a naked truth and give us its discomfort to deal with. Kímmapiiyipitssini: The Meaning of Empathy, for example, makes the viewer face the problems Indigenous peoples deal with in Canadian society.
Kímmapiiyipitssini leaves me in fear and mental agony. It’s a documentary about the opioid crisis amongst the Indigenous peoples of south Alberta, mostly the Blackfoot people. The movie leaves me with so many questions and so much heartbreak.
In Kímmapiiyipitssini, Mariah is a smart young girl who is not admitted to a better school even though she tries hard so she can actually go and leave the reserve. Her story was sad to me because I want to see people who strive for good education get out of a circle that is so devastating.
Most of the Indigenous people interviewed in this movie are addicted to something, be it alcohol or drugs. And none of them seem to make it out of the circle, because the help offered is nothing more than a Band-Aid on a wound that actually would need a 10-hour surgery and proper stitches. I feel deep empathy for the people who try to help, because it seems all they get is hot water and towels when what they really need is a sterile operating room.
The movie follows many people; there is no fun in this topic and also no fun in this movie. The scenes switch between interviews and footage showing people having to live through their addiction.
The problems are addressed from an Indigenous point of view, where the watcher feels like an observing outsider. It’s a calm voice that accompanies the film and connects the different scenes.
Kímmapiiyipitssini isn’t a pleasant movie—it’s a rough reality that is highly educational and raises important questions. It’s perfect for those who want a deeper understanding of the problems that Indigenous peoples face.
There is a lack of solutions, and although at the end of the film there is a positive outlook, it still just feels like a temporary patch. It left me with so many questions in my head and the feeling that there needs to be change.
The two hours of movie are hard to chew, but Kímmapiiyipitssini gives a very good insight. Those interested in politics or people pursuing careers in social work will find that Kímmapiiyipitssini will create empathy and understanding of the situation through the movie’s storytelling.
Kímmapiiyipitssini screens at 5 pm and 7:30 pm on Wednesday, November 24 at Cinecenta and Sunday, November 28 and Tuesday, November 30 at The Vic Theatre.