Beans falls into a proud and long tradition of setting a coming of age tale amidst some specific historical event. In this case, it is the story of a young Mohawk woman entering her teens just as the Oka Crisis in Quebec in 1990, a moment that sparked in the Canadian consciousness the awakening of indigenous rights and an awareness of how much colonialist racism underlies Canadian culture. Film maker Tracey Deer has crafted a touching and powerful story about a young woman finding herself while surrounded by a cultural moment of danger and opportunity.
My main critique of the film is that there are a lot of not-great performances within this cast which will often take us out of the picture. However that cannot be said for the film's incredible lead, young actor Kiawenti:io who lights up the screen every time she's on it and imbues the title character which such a life force. She is captivating and I hope we'll get to see her in more films soon.
Beans does a wonderful balancing act between telling the story of this young woman in a sensitive and nuanced way while also paying historical witness to the events of the Crisis itself. I was young when it was happening but the film felt like it was immersing me in the time and even for people who have never heard of the events, the film gives a very clear chronicle of the event and the importance of those days.
And Beans works powerfully for almost all ages except for the youngest of children. Overall it is a wonderful film and a showcase for its star.
Beans
Starring: Kiawenti:io, Paulina Jewel Alexis, Violla Beauvais, Rainbow Dickerson, Joel Montgrand
Director: Tracey Deer
Writers: Meredith Vuchnich, Tracey Deer
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