FESTIVAL PREMIERE
FEATURE | USA | 70 MINUTES | Navajo
The Arrangement
Director: Shonie De La Rosa
An all age’s romantic comedy about an arranged Navajo marriage. Betty sends her adult son Harold via horseback to her longtime friend’s (Mabel) homestead to fetch her sewing kit. As Harold begins his journey, all is well until many mishaps start to impede his journey to Mabel’s. After many treacherous days of traveling via horseback in the Navajo backcountry, Harold arrives at Mabel’s homestead only to find out that the family only speaks Navajo. Harold who speaks very little Navajo, struggles to communicate with them and is immediately tasked by Mabel with cleaning the homestead, mending corrals, and many other strenuous chores on the property with Rita.
Harold & Rita have no idea what their mothers have secretly planned. Harold’s arrival at the homestead is far from just a coincidence.
Featuring an all Navajo cast, crew and shot entirely on the Navajo Nation. The Arrangement is the very first feature film produced (80%) in the Dine’ (Navajo) language. Subtitled in English.
CAST & CREDITS
Director
Shonie De La Rosa
Producer
Shonie De La Rosa
Writer
Shonie De La Rosa
Key Cast
Stevevost Boshi Jim, Jocelyn Billy Upshaw
DIRECTORS BIO
Shonie De La Rosa made his very first film with his childhood best friend on Super 8 film when he was just 10 years old back in 1977. It was a sci-fi about an astronaut landing on a planet and having a laser gun fight with an alien. The astronaut prevailed over the alien and left the planet in his rocket. The End.
Shonie caught the film making bug very early in his life. 47 years later, Shonie continues to create through his production company Sheephead Films. Shonie as well as his wife Andee have created many types of productions over the years from music videos, documentaries, short & feature films. Many of these films, as well as many of the actors & individuals involved in these productions have gone on to win many awards & high recognition over the past two decades.
Two of their documentaries in particular have helped shape and change Navajo Nation laws. For example, their documentary “G” Methamphetamine on the Navajo Nation helped get methamphetamine put on the list of illegal substances on the Navajo Nation. Their other documentary “Pirates of the Navajo Nation” helped to educate the Navajo Nation Council on the issues of DVD/CD piracy on the Navajo Nation. This in turn helped to enact the Unauthorized Recording Act of the Navajo Nation.
Their flagship film “Mile Post 398” released in 2007 was a major milestone in Navajo cinema. Regarded by many as the “Most Authentic Navajo Movie” ever made, it focused on the many disparities and struggles that many Navajo people have had to face in their lives for many generations, and continue to do so to this day. Mile Post 398 was also the very first full feature film ever produced, that was written, directed, and starred an all Navajo cast & crew. The film was also shot entirely on the Navajo Nation. Mile Post 398 as well as its cast went on to win multiple awards from around the world. It has become an extremely popular film not only with the Navajo people but with many indigenous people around the world. The film is also heavily utilized within many indigenous recovery programs and institutions.
Shonie once again has raised the bar for himself with the release of his newest feature film The Arrangement. Written by Shonie, this film was also entirely filmed on the Navajo Nation and features an all Navajo cast & crew. What makes this film so unique is that, it happens to be the very first feature film ever produced primarily (80%) in the Diné (Navajo) language.
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
Sheephead Films is Navajo owned and is based in Kayenta, AZ on the Navajo Nation. With a focus on Navajo and everything Navajo, Sheephead Films will continue to create the most authentic and genuine Navajo content possible.
