Frybread Face and Me

Although I am not Navajo Indian, I grew up right on the edge of the Rez. As a child, I never appreciated the beauty of the land and its people, only desiring to leave it behind. The sights and sounds of this movie actually gave me the gift of understanding how much my life was affected by the People and their way of life. It was powerful in its slow simplicity.

My graduating class in 1980 was 95% Dine' and only 45 of the 60 Seniors graduated. I wish I had been able to appreciate the honor I was given to live among - and visit with these beautiful people. I am proud that my brother married a Dine' and have four beautiful children whose Navajo mother and her family did their best to teach that serenity and culture to those youngsters.

Frybread Face And Me is wonderfully entertaining - each character has their own aspect within the story that truly engaged me. From the wise old grandmother, who you come to respect the moment she is introduced to the young aunt, who you find truly charismatic. I was rooting for her success almost immediately.

This story follows a young boy connecting with his roots as a Navajo, spending his summer with his grandmother, cousins, aunts and uncles. He unexpectedly finds that he is eager to understand his culture, despite his hesitance at his arrival. It is a fantastic story about family, generations, and tradition.

The film is told from a man's perspective of his childhood; his memories are something many children can easily relate to. The boy in the film is extremely curious and innocent at his age, playing with toys regularly and generally enjoying his childhood in any way he can.

The story is very easy to follow, the narrator is a perfect way to introduce characters and situations clearly. Each character is lively and interesting enough that I truly stayed engaged throughout the entire story. The film's concept fits wonderfully for the intended age group; each course of action the main character takes is typical of what a child would do in the same situation. There is one scene in which graphic violence occurs - men riding bulls and getting hurt to the point of bleeding and bruising. The set is particularly impressive, as the accuracy of the reservation is astounding. The acting is also incredibly good - the children are easy to understand and sympathize with, which is a great feat for a young actor. The film encourages audiences to self-reflect on their own culture, how much they engage in and learn from it.

The film's message is that culture is an important aspect of life; learning from it can be extremely beneficial to yourself as well as the people around you.

I give Frybread Face And Me 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. It is available now in limited theaters and on Netflix. By Maverick C., KIDS FIRST!

I grew up in New Mexico, 20 minutes from the Navajo reservation. This movie depicts life on the rez as it is. I think the story is solid and the cinematography is on point.

Sarah Natani was a delight to watch and listen to. I loved watching her weave, and how the film portrayed the spiritual importance of weaving, especially in the Navajo tradition. I also loved listening to her speak real Navajo. She brought back a lot of memories with her stories. I'm also pretty sure I'm going to be speaking with a Navajo accent for a few days after this.

The only thing that disappointed me is not all the actors are Navajo. Most people watching this probably won't know the difference, but it's glaring for those of us who do know. Still, the non-Navajo actors were respectful of Navajo culture and beliefs. They played their parts well enough that if it weren't for their faces, I wouldn't have known different.

This is by and far the best depiction I've seen on screen of the Navajo people and their culture. I will watch this again and recommend it to my friends, even my Diné friends.

I loved this film. The only thing that I didn't like was the subtitles sometimes weren't on long enough for you to read them. However, the boy taken from San Diego to live with his grandmother in Arizona to become a man is sweet and at sometimes funny.

The relationships between the boy and his uncle, his aunt, his cousin and grandmother are intriguing as to how they evolve throughout the movie. The boy changes over and over in the film, being resistant to change and then not. Very sweet in his relationship to his cousin who was more like a mouthy big sister to him. The acting is very good and the script very believable.

I laughed, I cried, and I throughly enjoyed this film. Wonderful performances, beautiful cinematography, and heartfelt dialogue. Every scene worked. The child actors were so good, I want to see more from them.

I was drawn into the story from the opening. The camera work was so well done, it never felt intrusive. The acting was spot on and the look of the film made the whole thing feel authentic. I appreciated the narration, it moved the story without being over-handed.

I appreciate that this is a film for everyone in the family. It has a beautiful message of love and respect. The importance of knowing where you come from, traditions, and loving the characters that are your family.

This is a film I will definitely watch again.