Billy Luther
2010 | USA
Filmmaker Billy Luther, who belongs to the Navajo, Hopi, and Laguna Pueblo tribes, offers this captivating look at the little documented tradition of Grab Day, a community-wide prayer of abundance, thanks, and renewal in Laguna Pueblo villages that exists at the intersection of traditional Native and contemporary Western cultures. Grab Day, which began 300 years ago when the Spanish brought Catholicism to the Southwest, honors the feast days of specific saints, which the Laguna Pueblos celebrate by throwing food and gifts from the rooftops of their homes. Luther grew up with the tradition and returns home to find out how it has evolved. His intimate portrait of three families as they prepare for the annual event offers a fascinating look at Laguna Pueblo society through the lens of this joyful holiday.