For a few years now I've been making a long-overdue effort to understand some realities of First Nation experience. I like finding these stories that I feel the actors and crew themselves are telling. In 2022, this is quite an old movie now! The acting and production can be uneven, the story isn't very rich in detail. But I'm glad I watched it! Again, because it's a story that these people wanted to tell vs. Some big company with shareholders deciding. It was a little bit of a trial to watch, but I'm glad I did. I have slightly more understanding now. I'm sad that the older actor in this group is gone now. He seemed lovely.
3 Reviews
A sad story...
LaxFan9423 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this film because it really hit my heart hard. Towards the middle part, when Jesse is sleeping in the hay right before he wakes up to find his horse there waiting for him. I bawled my eyes out like a baby since I felt it was such a sad scene. Jesse really had a rough childhood from his infancy on! It's no wonder why he was mad at the world. I'd be mad at the world too if I kept on being bounced around from foster home to foster home! Of course, I think we all know that is one of the many nasty by-products of colonization! I don't think Jesse was the only one being hit hard from childhood. Adam Beach's character had a tough life as well when he thought that Jesse's grandfather killed his father. That would be tough on anyone!
But I loved the end scene where Jesse steps in to save Adam Beach's character. Sorry I forget his character name off the top of my head but that was a powerful moment for me: two proud young Native kids saving each other's lives! Don't forget that Jesse's horse helped him change his personality and character from a bitter young man to a loved hero in his own community!
Anyway, I give this film a 7 out of 10.
But I loved the end scene where Jesse steps in to save Adam Beach's character. Sorry I forget his character name off the top of my head but that was a powerful moment for me: two proud young Native kids saving each other's lives! Don't forget that Jesse's horse helped him change his personality and character from a bitter young man to a loved hero in his own community!
Anyway, I give this film a 7 out of 10.
Good movie to teach some of the reservation history and life
MEEdmo424 September 2009
I really enjoyed this movie, and especially seeing Graham Greene and Tom Jackson together again. Loved them in Medicine River and this is basically another good pairing. It is the story of the Indian tribe trying to bring back children who had been taken from the reservation when their parents were gone. As usual, the government thought it best to take them from their heritage because they did not have a mother or father. It shows the closeness of those on the reservation as they step in and help to bring a sense of family and heritage to these children growing up without it. It is difficult sometimes, as the movie shows, for those who remember only foster homes in a different life. To learn to accept the culture of their people, it becomes a challenge of patience to the older ones who work to impart that culture into the lives of these children/teens. Making it harder for this particular teen, is the fact that his grandfather is partly to blame for his mother's death. I enjoy the closeness that comes eventually in this group of people as they work with the teens involved. It is well worth watching.
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