The film stars Grace Dove as Aline Spears, a Cree woman who survives the Indian residential school system to become a code talker for the Canadian Air Force during World War II.

[1] The film's cast also includes Summer Testawich and Carla-Rae as Aline Spears in childhood and older age, as well as Phillip Lewitski, Rémy Girard, Karine Vanasse, Michelle Thrush, Glen Gould, Gail Maurice, Cara Gee, Joshua Odjick, Jonathan Whitesell, Jules Arita Koostachin and Alanis Obomsawin in supporting roles.

The historical span from the late 1800s to present day also gives the film heft; the flashbacks used to reflect how memories carry intergenerational trauma are a poignant device.

"[9] For Original Cin, Kim Hughes wrote that "Clements’ searing film — notably and beautifully shot on traditional territories and with its unanimously strong performances abetted by a brilliant cameo by filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin — is unsparing, as perhaps it must be.

"[10] The film received five Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 11th Canadian Screen Awards in 2023, for Best Original Screenplay (Clements), Best Original Song (Clements, Wayne Lavallee and Jesse Zubot for "You Are My Bones"), Best Makeup (Darci Jackson and Elizabeth McLeod), Best Hair (Charlene Dunn) and Best Visual Effects (Eric Gambini, Sarah Krusch Flanagan, Louis Mackall, Virginie Strub, Andrew Joe, Gabriel Chiang and Linus Burghardt).