Customer Reviews

Grand Avenue [VHS]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Grand Avenue An HBO Original Series written and produced by Greg Sarris, executive producer Robert Redford.

This powerful dramatic series tells the story of several generations of American Indians, Portuguese, Mexicans and African Americans who reside on Grand Avenue in real-life Santa Rosa, California. Based on the best-selling book by the same name, Greg Sarris takes the viewer deep inside the compelling world of mult-cultural America in the 21st Century. Winner of the Best Feature Film award at the American Indian Film Festival

I stumbled blindly upon this film, channel surfing one nite some years ago, and immediately found the next time it would air and recorded it for - what one might call - future posterity. GRAND AVENUE has made me cry, laugh, but mostly think. My sister and I are Native American on our mother's side. It is her birthday and I was trying to think of something special for her. As I write this, I am dubbing a copy for her. It is ironic that I moved to Santa Rosa 12 years ago, and since living here have found that many movies were filmed here or in this area. But one does not have to live here to appreciate what a great movie is all about. GRAND AVENUE (co-produced by Robert Redford)is a powerful, shocking, and enlightening look into the lives and culture of our country's real fore-fathers (and mothers/brothers/sisters}. I applaud HBO for courageously giving this incredible odyssey to us, but wonder why they have not shared it with us again in over 3 years. I could rave on, but there is only one way to experience GRAND AVENUE -- see it! And seeing will be believing, and realizing that the truth is not Walt Disney or even CNN. The truth is in our own backyards ... and in this masterpiece of cinema. [For the curious who ask "what's it like?" - it is reminiscent (in an Indian kind of way) to John Singleton's Boyz N the Hood.] If you're tired of sit-coms & fluff, fluff up your pillow and prepare yourself for something very, very special.

An Indian family moves off of the rez and onto Grand Avenue, siutated in a neighborhood made up of various cultures and histories. The general tone of the film seems almost After School Special-like until someone gets into a cussing match or has sex in the backseat of a car. Not that that's all bad; the movie has a great many important messages and great stories woven throughout, and pays off for the serious drama fan looking for a fresh course. The acting is good across the board and the different threads of the characters' lives don't get muddled, which is surprising since the ensemble is so large.

Check it out. It's good stuff.

This Is a GREAT Movie Written by Greg Sarris who is a local Santa Rosa Native,This film was Filmed in Santa Rosa and used many Sonoma County residents as extras{Myself and my Mother included}This brings todays Native Americans into the reality of life off the Rez and those who try to keep their traditions alive in a white world

This fine piece of work has gotten lost in the shuffle. It is difficult to obtain a VHS copy, and apparently has never been issued on DVD. It is timely, well written and directed, and outstandingly acted. It deserves a new life on DVD!

I thought this mini-series and it's characters were so well written & acted that it should have continued on as a series on HBO.Shelia Tousey(Molly), Deeny Dakota(Justine) and Diane DesBassige(Alice)and the always magnificent,Tantoo Cardinal gave such incredibly powerfull performances that they left me wanting to know what happens with their characters next.I really would have liked to seen "Grand Avenue" made into a series.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GRAND AVENUE!!!

THIS MOVIE WAS SO EMOTIONALLY STIRING...SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME ON HBO...WAS STILL CRYING FROM PART 1 WHEN PART 2 BEGAN TO PLAY.. GROWING UP IN SIMILAR SURROUNDINGS BROUGHT MANY MEMORIES TO THE SURFACE FOR ME... ACTING WAS SUPERB... NOW OWN IT & WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL..

I watched this and enjoyed it very much with my 3 daughters when they were very young. They all are now adults with children of their own and this came up in conversation. We would very much like to see this on dvd and I am sure you or someone would make good money on this. The movie does make your mind think back to when i myself was a child. We also came up to the city life straight from the reservation and was shocked how the children our own age were. Then after a while we got caught up in it as well.

I would buy several copies myself.

This was simply exquisite. If only it was available on DVD. It brings realities that we tend to romanticize to the forefront.

The promo reads "Around Every Corner in America There's a Story Waiting To Be Told." The story here is about native Americans. One family in particular.Mollie moves her two teenage daughters, and her young son, to a new neighborhood when they are expelled from their Indian Reservation after the death of her husband.With no where else to go she goes to her cousin Anna, who lives on Grand Avenue.Mollie has a drinking problem, can't hold down a job and has demons from her past.The oldest daughter, Justine (portrayed perfectly by the beautiful and talented Deeny Dakota,) is an angry and rebellious girl. However, she has redeeming qualities. She is vulnerable and right from the start it is apparent she is hiding this behind her toughness, sexuality and her edge.

Her sister, Alice, is more reserved and responsible. She's the one that looks after little brother, Sheldon.It's about a rough neighborhood, and the different races there, Blacks and Latinos, too. The Black gang thinks the native Americans are Latino. The black girl gang want to cut Justine, because she was messin with one of their men. This story is excellent. Originally this was a two part mini-series on HBO. It can be bought or rented in a two video set.Filmed on location in Santa Rosa, CA and Produced by Robert Redford. Yes, the Robert Redford. It co-stars A. Martinez, and Alexis Cruz. This movie is based on a book by Greg sarris.