Heather Rae produced and directed the film, which took her more than a decade to complete. Trudell aired nationally in the U.S. on April 11, 2006 as part of the Independent Lens series on PBS.
Reception
The film received generally mixed reviews from the critics.
... one of the most prominent and passionate advocates for Native American rights. ... [John Trudell] deserves more daring and objective scrutiny than this overly reverent tribute.
Despite the rambling finish, however, overall the film is a thought-provoking and graceful portrait of a tenacious peace warrior whose frankness is his greatest weapon.