No dates yet for Rex Theature screening

Chris Clegg
For the Lakeside Leader

Aaron James Sorensen is back!
The director of the popular 2005 film Hank Williams First Nation, Sorensen showed up recently promoting a new film, made in Alberta and starring northern Alberta residents.

Guitar Lessons was first shown in High Level on Sept. 23. It was a fitting location for the premiere, because the film was shot in the region.

The 90-minute film stars Corb Lund, Conway Kootney and Roseanne Supernault. The latter is from East Prairie Metis Settlement and is one of the stars of the TV series Blackstone (which also featured Stan Isadore of Slave Lake).

Sorensen, who now lives in Los Angeles, was born and raised in Dixonville and is proud of his Peace Country roots. His time living in Wabasca provided him with much of the material for Hank Williams First Nation. He is the writer and director of Guitar Lessons.

“It’s (Albertans) up on the big screen,” Sorensen says. “It’s a movie where Alberta gets to play Alberta.”

Guitar Lessons tells the story of a 15-year-old boy and a 50-year-old oilman who learn to grow up together over guitar lessons. It was primarily filmed in High Level, Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and Zama Lake. Sorensen says it took about one month to film the fall of 2021.

Sorensen anticipates Guitar Lessons will match Hank Williams First Nation in popularity. He says the two films are similar.

“In some ways, (Guitar Lessons) is a sequel,” he says.

Guitar Lessons played at High Prairie’s Park Theatre at various times between Sept. 30 and Oct. 6. Sorensen was in attendance to answer questions at the Oct. 1 show.

Sorensen says he’s been in touch with Slave Lake’s Rex Theatre and expects the film to be show there, but “there’s no date yet.”