Frybread Face and Me

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.

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.

Highly recommend, a very poignant look at reservation life in Arizona. This touching, coming of age film was well scripted and set in a very realistic, simple and honest way. The relationships were sometimes harsh but felt true, really it reminded me of spending time with my Granny as a young boy.

I never knew native people celebrated a baby's first laugh, wishing we had done something like that with our children. I'll definitely be doing that for my grandkids one day.

Side note - The other thing my wife & I thought was kinda cool is that we've been to the gas station in that movie 4-5 times when we were traveling in the RV.

Frybread Face and Me is a spiritual awakening for little Benny, caught between the divorce of his parents and trying to find where he fits in the universe. He learns the Navaho way of life thanks to his cousin Dawn, (she played a wonderful role), his 'bull riding' and sheep herding uncle Marvin and most of all, the two females who played major roles in his native awakening. The Grandmother is the central spiritual leader and family matriarch, while Lucy tries to meld together each of the individual personalities in this film. Also included are an aunt and uncle, and their very young baby, who laughs for the first time thanks to Benny.

If you're looking for a drama film, this isn't it. However, if you want to learn and enjoy the path Benny and his cousin Dawn embark on together that summer, this is a film you will appreciate.

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.