Each winter, when the lakes freeze over, a motley gang of professional wrestlers leaves Winnipeg on a one-of-a-kind wrestling trip through remote Indigenous communities of Northern Manitoba. Wrestling insiders call it the ‘Death Tour’ – both for the physical hardships endured on the road and the emotional toll it takes on those who experience it. Famous for its star-studded alumni, the trip offers wrestlers a rare taste of fame and a chance to see if they have what it takes to make it in professional wrestling. This deeply personal documentary travels through Canada’s frozen North and into the wrestlers’ minds as they battle the elements, each other, and the impacts of our colonial past.
“The Death Tour” is a road trip movie like none other which takes viewers on an epic journey to a part of the world rarely captured on camera. Executive Produced by wrestling legend Chris Jericho, audiences experience these remote communities through the wrestler’s eyes as they drive through the frozen tundra, sleep on ring mats after shows, and face their inner demons. Some hope that surviving the Death Tour will propel them to wrestling superstardom while others, their bodies battered and scarred, head North for one last chance to hear the roar of an adoring crowd.
The Death Tour has been taking place since the 1970s and has helped launch the careers of many wrestling greats. The filmmaker Director Stephan Peterson (Ice Road Truckers on History Channel), and Co-Director Sonya Ballantyne (The Walking Dead: LAST MILE) were lucky to film the 50th year of the tour for the documentary and to partner with wrestling legend Chris Jericho as Executive Producer. Working with Chris Jericho allowed them to connect with some of the biggest names in wrestling and to film an AEW match featuring one of the film’s main subjects. While there are plenty of fun wrestling scenes in the documentary, the heart of the film rests with its main subjects and the Indigenous communities they visit. The documentary is an intimate story of trauma, redemption, and passion.
The film premieres on Friday, January 19th at 2 pm, followed by a second screening on Monday, January 22nd at 12:45 pm. For further information, visit the Slamdance Festival website
Image: Sage Morin Victory In Ring Arm In The Air -Van Royko / NA_Sunrise On Winter Road_Van Royko provided by Cinematic Red
About Author
