Customer Reviews

The Education of Little Tree [VHS]

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

As a Native American I am well aware of all the blatant stereotyping out there. What I like about this movie is the underlayment of good values. Yes, there is the moonshining, and it was illegal and booze has definitely had a detrimental effect on all races of people. However, this just showed that people during those times were really scrapping to keep their lives going. The Grandparents were not sitting around drinking. As with Casinos, they were selling their product to Dominant culture people. No, I am not a drinker and I teach abstinance.A perfect moment if parents are watching with their kids(as they should), to field children's thoughts about it. Do some teaching.
I wonder how many people know that during the Depression when other races of people were just hungry and homeless, Indian peoples across America- some people literally starved to death. On the bottom economically. Only 75 years ago! In our country?

The connection of the people to the land and nature was very evident, but, understated, and they were not stereotyped as turning into mystical beings, but, rather, being one with the beauty around them- poor but rooted there. My humble Grandparents also took me to rock ledges and the woods to pray. Showed reverence for all living things.

Someone has mentioned that characters were stereotyped as typical of mountain people. I would like to say that one of the reasons I like this movie is that I was very moved by the way a filmmaker set down scenes and family interractions that I experienced. There are people still alive who I have known well, who are good nurturing souls like the Grandparents and John Willow. Even now, in Hollers and on country cowpaths, there are folks like these, believe me. So much hurt and antifamily abuse came out of so many Indians going off to Indian boarding schools. But, here and there, and where I am from, there are pockets of country Indians, registered tribal people, living in harmony. Holding us together.

Could have been my grandma's cabin,inside and out, or my adopted Dad and Mom. There was much good said in this movie, and implied, about traditional values of kindness and caring. About family, friends, and how if an Indian child does not have relatives, they are given relatives and taken care of. The Ongoing, the future of the community. Closeness to the land.

I marvel that the author of the book from which this movie is loosely adapted, had dubious racial ties. I do not support the KKK in anyway, but, the movie reflects the moviemakers,not the book author, and I do not believe that people like American Indian stars Tantoo Cardinal and Graham Greene would have supported a movie that they did not find worthy. Blessings and Balance.

Despite the fact that the book on which the movie was based was a fraud (sold as an autobiography, which it wasn't), this movie was wonderfully done. Growing up in the East TN and Southwest Virginia mountains with a Scotch/Irish Grandpa and a part Cherokee Grandma, I saw a lot of our family in this movie. It is true to the depression era of East Tennessee (and yes, a lot of children participated in moonshining). I highly recommend the movie to everyone. It's a shame that movies like this have to be made in Canada, but other than "Smoke Signals" so far all the truer stories of Native American People are. Maybe one day our country will accept our heritage and do this.

The Education of Little Tree is one of the best keeper movies I have had the pleasure of watching in years. My 18 year old son watched it 3 times in 2 days. My best friend loved it, and cried during some of the touching scenes. The few places where there are curse words used are unfortunate, as there are families who would completely enjoy this movie, but won't buy it because of a few words. I have native ancestry and thought this movie was respectful to my background. This movie left me warm and wanting more of the same.

These days I watch the first scenes of a DVD rather cautiously, waiting to see if I'll get hooked. To my surprise, this DVD was totally absorbing: the beauty of the countryside and the even-handed portrayal of story and characters.

I actually liked the way the child got involved in the moonshining action, showing how it's hard to define activities as "good" or "bad." Many citizens believe the moonshine laws did more harm than good, like the war on drugs today.

I also liked the way the movie gave us an ending that was satisfying but not sugary. Bad things happen. The child was learning to differentiate between nature's cruelty and invented human cruelty.

And I don't think the whites were stereotyped as bad. The grandfather and his fellow moonshiners were a great bunch. The church scene was a little extreme but offered some much-needed comic relief.

Why four stars and not five? After watching the video, I learned the author's story, and I felt a little cheated. But after reading reviews by native Americans and Cherokees, it's reassuring to know the film managed to tell an accurate story. When I lived in Alaska, I heard many horror stories about the way governmet treated Native Americans. No surprises on that score.

I am buying this video for my 8 yr old grandson. He needs to know this factual part of U.S. history, but there are many other lessons to be learned from this movie. It is beautifully done, entertaining & enlightening. Each time I watch it, I am amazed by the wonderful cinematography, and also moved and inspired to search my own soul and examine my own life. I only buy movies that I can watch repeatedly and still discover something new each time. This one is a movie I could never tire of seeing. It's terrific.... "And you can have them clobbers too!"

this movie will go into my library and be treasured for years to come. while it touches on the 'sensitive' issue of the persecution of Native Americans, it maintains a good connection with the 'white' sector of america as well bearing in mind little trees 'roots' (half native american half white). everyone will relate to the tender relationship between little tree and his grandparents while still getting a realistic idea of the plight of native americans in having to relinquish their children to missionaries running so-called schools, and the abuse children had to suffer at the hands of these individuals. the balance of tenderness and reality is well-done and i found myself smiling frequently...nevertheless, a tear a two did fall, but in real life tears and smiles intermingle. Recommend for people of all ages, and all races and ethnicities.

This movie is beautiful to look at and also has a beautiful respect for the Cherokee culture. James Cromwell is an excellent actor and as usual is wonderful in this film. Joesph Ashton is adorable as Little Tree. Tantoo Cardinal (though looking a bit too young and healthy for the role) and Graham Greene also give great performances. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of Little Tree being taught the moonshine business but in the context of the story it does fit and is not offensive. I suppose someone could be offended by the portrayal of some of the mountain people especially in the church scenes but again it fits in to the storyline and has some historical accuracy. I have never read the book and was unaware of any controversy about the author until I read other people's reviews and I hope the book's author's affiliations don't keep anyone from enjoying this film.

This movie is very powerful. One to make you stop and think how intolerant we have been in the past. I felt that it accurately portrayed the book. (Something that very few movies can pull off.) It allows you to see the "Trail of Tears" in a whole new perspective. The acting is well done, and the profound, homespun wisdom should make us all miss a venerable, aged loved one that has passed onto their own "understanding." If you want a good heart-warming story that will bring the tears to you and teach your children sound morals, it doesn't get much better than this. WATCH IT!

this is one of the most beautifully done movies-from-a-book that i've ever seen. the music is haunting, and so is the story. certainly in a genre by itself - pure and worthy - in this day of trashy movies.

Nineteen hundred and thirty-five was a pivotal year for the eight year old boy called Little Tree. It was the time when his mountain grandfather and Cherokee grandmother came to retrieve him from a relative determined to break his spirit. These two remarkable people take their grandson into the mountains where his real education begins. Reminising about that time, the adult Little Tree's voice shares with us his story, his heritage and his determination to be the person that he is regardless of the hardships which come.

Listen to his story as we're taken into the Smokey Mountains of Tennesee where some Cherokees were fortunate to hide after being on the Trail of Tears. Hear Willow John's tale of his people that he passes down to Little Tree. In sharing the Cherokee story, Willow John insures that his people will never die. For their story lives in their young people who will carry it to their children.

The scenery of the Smoky mountains is fantastic. You get to know the mountain people during the depression. See grandfather make the best corn whisky in the area as he tries to hide from the revenuers. Feel the compassion that a young boy has for a little girl only to have the prejudice of her father stand in their way.

Learn the painful lesson of Native American children torn from their families, sent to a boarding school, stripped of their names and language and forced to suffer indignities which no child should suffer. Those sordid parts of American history makes you want to cry in sadness and anger. Little Tree is able to endure even at his young age due to those life's experiences and lessons taught to him from his grandparents. These lessons are not found in a book but are read from the heart.

This is an excellent movie that deals with identity, loss of innocence, prejudice, poverty and bureaucratic insensitivity. Through it all a young boy's spirit stays vibrant as ever. Sentimentality won't be found here. Love, dignity and pride are what endures. Take heart the lessons of Little Tree.