Alanis Obomsawin’s My Friend the Green Horse is an abundantly heartfelt reminder to ‘touch grass’ in a moment where our lives our increasingly moving away from the practise. Obomsawin’s latest is centred around her relationship with her imaginary friend, the titular Green Horse who, amongst other illusive animals, would frequently populate her dreams as a child. Little Alanis embarked upon several mystical adventures with the Green Horse, who taught her to value the sacred gift of life and to remain kind, generous, and selfless towards all living creatures sharing this gift.
This crafty documentary, which is now streaming for free from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), blends live-action and stop motion footage by animator Terril Calder to create a spectacular world of wonder, fantasy, and innocence. The film emphasizes the importance of nature and curiosity – two irreplaceable facets of human development which are being sidelined in the power-hungry pursuit of industrial development. The story, relayed with a child-like sincerity, recalls Obomsawin’s first short documentary Christmas at Moose Factory (1971). In her debut film, children from Moose Factory, a Northern Ontario settlement composed primarily of Cree families, spoke about life during Christmastime through a voiceover while their drawings of said events decorated the screen. Both films invite you to see and experience the world through the eyes of a child, as the imperfect drawings and stop-motion animation depict an inimitable world where imagination is paramount.
As little Alanis treks through the forest with the Green Horse, helping sickly bears and watching the sun set over the river in her Abenaki homelands, we are reminded of how the interiority of the self is inextricably intertwined with the exteriority of our planet and its creations. Through this reminder, the film also acts as a vessel for sharing trans-cultural knowledge. Obomsawin’s story of finding a home amongst the flora and fauna contrasts the land-grabbing ideology and cultural erasure thrust upon society by settler culture. The film’s commentary on and through nature evokes a forgotten yet ethereal quality of life – that it thrives even outside of us, our material pursuits, and our commodified communities. It’s a reminder that the mysteries of life would unravel with tremendous ease if we were to follow the Green Horse and find harmony with our natural surroundings.
