Beans

source: Beans

source: Beans

Seriously, this movie blew me away. Kiawentiio may be very young, but her talent feels beyond her years. Also some other familiar faces Paulina Alexis and D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai from Reservation Dogs. Literally lightning in a bottle casting for this debut film by Tracey Deer. So much that I cant imagine her ever topping this and yet she most definitely will. I was fortunate enough to see it virtually during its festival circuit, but now that it's available for purchase, I've bought it and rewatched already. This is just the kind of movie that reminds you why you love movies! And being someone who has forgotten for a while, it's a breath of fresh air to remember.

I enjoyed watching Beans because it is very informative about the suffering of Indigenous people and what happened during the Oka Crisis in 1990. I think it is a good movie for those who are curious and interested in learning about Indigenous History, more specifically the one of Mohawks living in Kanehsatà:ke. While being an opportunity of learning, it is centered on a little girl nicknamed Beans who's 12 years old. While living difficult moments, she grows into become confident and standing up for who she is. As mentionned previously, it is set during the events of the Oka Crisis that lasted during 78 days in the summer of 1990. The reason why I liked the movie is because it was authentic to the reality of the events that occurred. In the beginning of the movie when Mohawks are blocking the bridge, not letting anyone cross it, one of them yells at a driver that if they want to cross the bridge, they'll have to tell their governor to stop stealing their land and trying to kill them. All the anger in the voice of the man showed exhaustion, Indigenous have been stripped of everything they have for centuries, yet they never were violent with us unless forced to, like during the Oka Crisis. Ironically, the word savage has been used to describe Indigenous people by white folks but the uncivilized ones were white people. Throughout the movie, it is said or seen that basic necessities like food, medication and services like ambulance were blocked by the SQ. Another example would be when the Canadian Army got involved, they said women and children could evacuate safely out of the territory where the conflict happened. However, when Beans, her mom and little sister leave, they're welcomed by white people throwing rocks and other dangerous projectiles at their car while police is on the other side of the road watching and doing nothing. In addition, as a Quebecois, it was very frustrating and confusing to watch, I cannot imagine how it must have been for an Indigenous person. Perhaps it is because I cannot grasp fully the situation, but it could have been easily avoided if they had decided to respect Mohawks when they protested because it is their land and there is a cemetery. The disrespect that has been showed towards Indigenous people during Oka Crisis is almost unbelievable, the expansion of a golf course on a regular cemetery would not even be slightly considered by anyone. Equally important, the struggles and generational trauma is shown multiple times during the movie. Indeed, towards the end, Beans almost get sexually abused by her friend's brother and after telling her friend April, she let slip out that she also get sexually abused, by her alcoholic father. In conclusion, Beans might not be for a younger audience, but I think if anyone has the opportunity to watch it, they should, it is a very enriching experience, especially as a Quebecois. People back then failed to realize they were in the wrong by accusing Mohawk protesters instead of protesting with them, however watching this movie is a great way to reflect on Indigenous struggles and not fail to realize that Indigenous people have never been in the wrong, they protect what they have left that has still not have been stolen or destroyed by us.

I stopped watching about 2/3 through. The mom, in an overwrought scene, had shortly before driven through the gauntlet of stone-throwing, white yahoos while the police (SQ?) merely watched. But what made me throw in the towel was the way the filmmaker chose to develop the "friendship" between Beans and her rougher peers. That didn't work for me at all. I'm assuming those youthful relationships and the incipient awakening of the heroine from a protected innocence was meant as a metaphor for First Nations society, but I don't know. The lack of nuance in the storytelling and a lack of historical footage that captured the racism encountered in the course of daily life off-reserve, during the blockade prevented me from feeling what I had hoped for.

This movie is phenomenal! And I wish that more people were able to see it, either on Netflix or Hulu or whatever other streaming platform that allows for more of an audience. I know a lot of people who are dying to watch it but just don't have the ability to purchase it or live outside the U. S. so it's a little bit more difficult. Hopefully in the next year or so some streamer will pick it up so more people have the chance to see it! It deserves a lot more recognition and I have no doubt that it will do well once it is available to stream, eventually!

It is a REALLY good movie. The child/adolescence point of view is well worked, and, although Beans, her family and other characters did not exist, the Oka situation was real, and was one of the many ugly (to say the list) faces of Canada/Quebec. But, please, keep in mind that the Oka trouble took place in 1990, and the Mohawks involved hadn't politics, money and other ideologies in mind. They just wanted their sacred ground to be respected. Exactly the opposite of some groups nowadays. So, if have stomach to see some ugly scenes of violence and discrimination against peacefull people, watch it.

source: Beans

As an American aware of our troubled past with Native American history and the founding of our nation, I was not as familiar with Canada's own racist background. Surrounding the real life standoff between the government and the native population of Quebec around the construction of a golf course on Indian burial ground is the backdrop of a parellel story of a young girl growing up in the midst of chaos. Kiawentiio is the actress in the lead role and she is magnificent in the part. Her hard driving mother only wants the best for her, including her attendance at a mostly white school. She meets a neighbor who attempts to toughen her up and they form an unlikely friendship. I recommend this film as a good educational tool and for the lead performance.

Set against the backdrop of the Oka crisis, Beans is a respectful Mohawk teenager applying to go to an exclusive private school. She tries to find her way with new friends as the external situation heats up around her. It's a compelling coming of age story and a compelling true history story. It's the marrying of the two that the film does struggle from time to time. It feels like the movie is trying to hit all the points of the crisis. Each incident is specifically linked to the real world footage. I don't know if this is based on a real person. I do sense a writer connecting the dots of the story. Beans is a compelling character and she has quite a personal journey. This is a compelling film.