Sugarcane

I watched this film at the Sundance Film Festival this year. The difficult subject of abuse in mission school, unanswered questions and consequences for the abuse victims and their descendants. Despite its noble intentions and the significance of the subject matter, this film falls short of delivering a masterful narrative with some repetitive scenes. The pacing felt uneven, with certain segments dragging on while others lack sufficient depth. Moreover, the editing occasionally undermines the emotional resonance of the testimonies, detracting from their impact. A more refined approach to story telling and presentation could have elevated this documentary to a more impactfull level.

SUGARCANE (2024) Nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Instead of righteous (and justified) anger, filmmakers Julian Brave Noisecat and Emily Kassie take an introspective and personal viewpoint in telling their sad story of the Canadian Residential education program where Native Indigenous Tribe members were placed in predominantly Catholic run boarding schools (similar programs were also set up in the U. S.).

The St. Joseph's Mission which the Documentary focuses on, was the site of such horrors as underage pregnancies, sexual abuse, violence, deaths and even murder. Noisecat's father was one of the victims who survived. Many others weren't so fortunate. The cover-up and lies involving Priests who, even when found to be molesters, were simply transferred to other reservations.

What distinguishes SUGARCANE (named for the location of the Mission) is how it displays that the crimes committed there have reverberated through multiple generations. St. Joseph's closed in 1981, but the program lasted until 1997. It's a dark cloud that looms over the Secwepemc people. Noisecat and Kassie never over-dramatize and let the people tell their own stories (including Noisecat and his father). As one elder implores early on that she wants the younger Secwepemc to "bear witness" to the events in order for their nation to heal.

This documentary was genuinely heartbreaking. I had heard of the residential schools and their atrocities but never knew the extent of it. Hearing first hand accounts and seeing the lasting impact the schools had on individuals and the generations that followed provided a new perspective on the issue. The only reason I did not give it a 10 was because it felt a little slow at times. Despite the pace the cinematography was stunning and it allowed the viewer time to soak it in and think. Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie wanted to raise awareness and educate others and they succeeded in their goal.

This remarkable film was the most memorable one I saw at Sundance this year. It has stayed with me for weeks. The film is beautifully shot and captures the landscape of Williams Lake. The directors artfully weave several narratives into the film. Each participant has a compelling and moving story of their horrific experiences at St. Joseph's mission. Although this was difficult to watch, the filmmakers handled these moments with much sensitivity and compassion. The film is lightened with colorful coverage of ceremonies and celebrations. All the participants, with the exception of the late Rick Gilbert, were at the q and a. Their testimonies were as moving and heart rendering as the film. The film well deserved the extended applause and standing ovation. A vital story that needed to be told. Most importantly, the making of the film was a healing process for the survivors. I cannot overstate how excellent this film. It should be seen by every Canadian and American...

"Sugarcane" is a documentary you should see. However, I am warning you up front...it's incredibly depressing because it's true. All the murders and sexual abuse did happen...and if you've been a victim yourself, you might want to think twice before you see it.

The film follows several people as they try to get to the truth about the Indian residential schools in Canada. This is because they not only abused the kids to knock away their culture, by the Catholic priests who ran the places often molested these kids. And, to make it worse, when the girls got pregnant, they babies were literally tossed into incinerators at least in the case of St. Joseph's Mission.

The only reason I gave this must-see film an 8 is that technically it was far from perfect...but still is most watchable. Occasionally the camerawork was poor and I feel that SOME parts should have been trimmed to make the story more succinct. Still, these are minor concerns and it's a film that NEEDS to be seen.

By the way, if you are wondering if these schools for the natives are unique, unfortunately they are not. The first huge sexual abuse scandal that was uncovered at a Catholic residential school was one for deaf kids! It's in the exceptional documentary "Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God".