In Maker of Monsters: The Extraordinary Life of Beau Dick, co-directors Natalie Boll and LaTiesha Fazakas give an intimate look into the life of one of Canada’s greatest artists. Beau Dick worked within an ancient tradition and rose to the ranks of international success within the white cube world of contemporary art while never forgetting his roots. This film strives to capture the essence of Beau Dick and his mysterious enigma as an artist who symbolized Canada’s history with the First Nations and the ethical dilemmas faced in reconciling with that colonialist history. Beau was able to use his celebrity to call attention to the injustices done to his people and the environment.
Even in his activism, Beau relied on his culture to inform him how to be political. He did not simply stage protests; he enacted ancient ceremonies, creating a public display infused with spirituality. He challenged the Canadian government, chief-to-chief, on his own terms and by using traditional Kwakwaka’wakw political protocol, with minor adjustments for the contemporary situation. He carried out the ceremonial act of breaking a Copper and shaming the Canadian government on two occasions. First, on the steps of the Parliament Building in Victoria, BC, and then one year later on the steps of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The Copper Breaking Ceremony is a spiritual and political act that had not been performed in over 100 years.
In reaching into his past, the stories of the Kwakwaka’wakw nations are also brought to the forefront; their rich history, their dramatic mythology, and the deep scars left by colonialism. Weaving together the personal and cultural until both become inseparable, Maker of Monsters presents an artist who succeeded in reconciling the two.
Maker of Monsters strives to unearth the factors that made Beau who he was—his deep connection to identity, family, and community, his struggle with addiction—and like a carver chipping away at a block of wood, his story brings truth and understanding out of the woodwork. Maker of Monsters illuminates a man whose art and life continue to transcend expectations and boundaries.
“A loving tribute to [a] remarkable man.” (David C. Jones, Vancouver Presents)