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.

I feel bad for all Indigenous people. In Canada and The United States. They have bad treated as bad if not worse than any other people on the plant. However, this documentary did not help me to understand their experience. It was poorly done in my opinion. It jumped around way to much. And had a lot of wasted scenes. The people in Canada who this documentary was about suffered greatly. No doubt about that. But, their story wasn't told here. They are still investigating things that happened way back into like the thirties. The Catholic Church is really made out to be the devil. And no doubt some were. But, anytime there is a church as large as they are. There will be a percentage of bad. The problem goes way deeper. They were lied to over and over again. They received no justice all around the world. No apology will ever fix all the tragedy they have suffered.

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...

This intimate look at a devastating community history was jarring and beautiful. I was moved beyond words, horrified at the actions of the canadian government and catholic church, and my heart aches for the countless people affected by the abuse and trauma. Many stories from the community are interwoven, giving a glimpse into the complex ways residential schools have poisoned generations of people. The resilience and courage of the subjects of this film cannot be understated. This piece felt deeply personal and widely relatable. The emotional toll it took was great and necessary. We are so lucky to hear this story.