By Rich Fisher
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwgs/local-kwgs-839534.mp3
Tulsa, Oklahoma – On today's show, we meet Tulsa-area filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. His new film --- it's called "Barking Water," and it was shot all over this state, and Harjo is its writer/director --- will make its Oklahoma premiere tonight (5/22) at the Circle Cinema here in Tulsa. In fact, Harjo will be on hand at the Circle both tonight and tomorrow night for post-screening Q&A sessions. It's Harjo's second feature-length film, and it debuted (back in January) at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The following description of the film comes from the official Sundance website: "Before Oklahoma was a red state, it was known as the Land of the Red People, described by the Choctaw phrase 'Okla Humma.' In his sophomore film, Sterlin Harjo takes viewers on a road trip through his own personal Oklahoma, which includes an eclectic mix of humanity. Irene and Frankie have a difficult past, but Frankie needs Irene to help him with one task. He needs to get out of the hospital and go home to his daughter and new grandbaby to make amends. Irene had been his one, true, on-again, off-again love until they parted ways for good. But to make up for the past, Irene agrees to help him in this trying time. With steady and graceful performances by Richard Ray Whitman as Frankie and Casey Camp-Horinek as Irene, this story takes viewers for a ride in the backseat of Frankie and Irene's Indian car, listening to their past and the rhythmic soundtrack that sets the beat for a redemptive road journey. Harjo wraps us in the charm and love of Oklahoma through the people and places Irene and Frankie visit along the way. In this sparingly sentimental and achingly poignant film, Harjo claims his place as one of the most truthful and honest voices working in American cinema today. 'Barking Water' is an expression of gratitude for the ability to have lived and loved." Also on today's edition of StudioTulsa, we have a commentary from Mark Darrah, who has some detailed thoughts on how he wants his tombstone to read.