Miss Navajo

Entrancing
You're drawn in from the very beginning. A very nicely executed documentary that is at once charming and compelling. This film draws you into the life of a lovely, introverted Navajo woman and her journey while introducing you to a culture and way of life that is not widely known. Poignant, relevant, and enjoyable.

A Gentle Film With An Ardent Message
"Miss Navajo" is a gentle film by the young Navajo director Billy Luther. This film follows the self-proclaimed introvert, Crystal Frazier, as she competes for the title of "Miss Navajo." The Miss Navajo pageant is a contest that tests the participant"s knowledge of Navajo culture, tradition and language. This film contains stunning imagery, a moving musical score, and Native American poetry. These attributes leave the viewer with a glimpse into the world of the young Navajo woman, a woman who is deeply connected to, and concerned for, the future of her tribe. If this film is a glimpse into future of the Navajo Nation, that future appears to be filled with a passion for the traditions of the past and a promise for the future.

Enjoyable
A good brief insight into the Navajo Nation. Documenting a Miss Navajo Nation Pageant was a good way to show some of the cultural, historical, and societal challenges many of the American Indian Nations are facing - keeping the beauty of their culture alive while still adapting to the current American culture. A couple Navajo friends recommended it to me as they were telling me bits and pieces about their culture and the pageant. When they told me about butchering a sheep as part of the pageant I believed them without hesitation. Right before I began to watch the video I wondered if my friends were teasing me about that part; but they weren't. Butchering a sheep is part of it - knowing the traditional old ways is a big part of the pageant. Have to love a culture that still honors the difficult job of getting food to the dinner plate.

Making flat bread, speaking Navajo, culture, traditions, history, and current Navajo issues are all part of the judging criteria. The fun part...

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