'' Turquoise Rose '' is a 2007 independent drama film co-written and directed by Holt Hamilton that takes place on the

Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation ( nv, Naabeehó Bináhásdzo), also known as Navajoland, is a Native Americans in the United States, Native American Indian reservation, reservation in the United States. It occupies portions of northeastern Arizona, northwe ...

. ''Turquoise Rose'' was filmed primarily on the

Fort Defiance, Arizona Fort Defiance ( nv, ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Apache County, Arizona, United States. It is also located within the Navajo Nation. The population was 3,624 at the 2010 census. History The land on which Fort Defiance was eventu ...

, as well as in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the o ...

. The film is one of the only American films to feature an indigenous Native American lead role for an actress, played by Navajo actress Johnson.

Synopsis

Turquoise "T" is in college in Phoenix and struggling at work as a photographer for a newspaper. She reluctantly agrees to stay with her grandmother on the Navajo reservation while she recovers from an illness. Over the summer she bonds deeply with her feisty and traditional grandmother in their rural homeland. Along the way she also gets to know the locals, including beginning a relationship with a handsome young artist named Harry, who's got personal issues of his own. Through many happy and sad memories, she gains a sense of purpose upon returning to the city and uses her skills in photography to make a change in her life, while honoring the experiences with her grandmother, with Harry by her side.

Cast

* Natasha Kaye Johnson as Turquoise "Rose" Roanhorse * Deshava Apachee as Harry Bahe, Turquoise's love interest * Ethel Begay as Masani, Turquoise's grandmother * Rhonda Ray as Lillian Roamhorse, Turquoise's mother * Bria Sherinian as Michelle, Turquoise's friend * John Boomer as Sam Johnson * Ernest "Ernie" David Tsosie III as Alvin Bahe * Vincent Craig as Uncle Billy, Harry's uncle R.I.P Vincent Craig * Katie Yazzie as Aunt Mary, Turquoise's aunt

Premiere

The film held its world premiere at Navajo History Museum & Visitor Center located at the

capital

Window Rock Window Rock ( nv, , ) is a census-designated place that serves as the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, the largest territory in North America of a sovereign Native American nation. The capital lies within the boundaries of the ...

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States. It is the list of U.S. states and territories by area, 6th largest and the list of U.S. states and territories by population, 14 ...

Accolades

External links

* *
Turquoise Rose – 32nd American Indian Film Festival

at Gallup Independent

{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203093337/http://www.gallupindependent.com/2006/jun/060906rzflm.html , date=2010-02-03 at Gallup Independent
''Brainstorming in Baghdad…The Story Behind the Story of “Turquoise Rose”''
at NativeVue
''Turquoise Rose Premieres in Window Rock, Arizona''
at NativeVue
''Movie With All Navajo Cast To Debut''
at Native Youth Magazine
''Turquoise Rose at Tempe''
at Native Youth Magazine
''Turquoise Rose (2007)''
at

Yahoo! movies Yahoo! Movies (formerly Upcoming Movies), provided by the Yahoo! network, is home to a large collection of information on movies, past and new releases, trailers and clips, box office information, and showtimes and movie theater information. Ya ...

Manta
2007 films American independent films Navajo-language films Films about Native Americans Films set in Fort Defiance, Arizona Films set on the Navajo Nation Films shot in Arizona American drama films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films

Synopsis

Cast

Premiere

Accolades

See also

External links