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Beans

Play trailer 2:23 Poster for Beans Released Nov 5, 2021 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Twelve-year-old Beans is on the edge: torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence; forced to grow up fast and become the tough Mohawk warrior she needs to be during the Oka Crisis, the turbulent Indigenous uprising that tore Quebec and Canada apart for 78 tense days in the summer of 1990.
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Beans

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Critics Consensus

Beans opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio.

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Critics Reviews

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Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News It makes for ideal viewing during Native American Heritage Month. But parents should be made aware it deals frankly with a variety of issues. Rated: 3/4 Nov 11, 2021 Full Review Ronda Racha Penrice TheWrap To Deer's credit, she does not back down from the cruelty that older, white people demonstrate toward the community, including children. (Archival footage of the real incident more than backs up Deer's portrayal.) Nov 5, 2021 Full Review Nick Allen RogerEbert.com It's not hard not to feel that an even more resonant film would go deeper into what's underneath these various landmarks of maturity and identity, instead of predominantly just pointing them out. Rated: 2/4 Nov 5, 2021 Full Review Carmen Paddock TAKE ONE Magazine BEANS makes its rage and joy known as Tekahentahkhwa embraces her abilities and identity. Kiawentiio’s vibrant performance lends freshness to familiar beats and grows in size and autonomy through this self-discovery in history. Nov 30, 2023 Full Review Alexandra MacAaron Women's Voices for Change 'Beans' is not a masterpiece, but it’s a significant debut. I look forward to watching Deer hone her craft as a filmmaker — perhaps next time with a bigger budget and wider distribution. Because I’m sure she still has stories to tell. Rated: 8/10 Jul 22, 2022 Full Review Dan Bayer Next Best Picture With Kiawentiio’s sensitive performance at its center, Beans accumulates power as it goes thanks to Deer’s thoughtful direction. Rated: 8/10 May 11, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Adam K To look at the poster, you think you are gonna see a story about a cute kid in Canada. To know the history of the Oka crisis, you are gonna know that there is going to be a particular discomfort as that standoff was quite possibly one of the most bitter moments in the mouths of our country. The people of Oka were wrong, the more uncivil warriors were wrong and the bad actors in the Army force were wrong. I did not however expect to see what I can only describe as a cross between Thirteen, The Diary of Anne Frank and Are You There God?, it's me Margaret. This movie is a brilliant, but at times hard to watch story of a Mohawk girl seemingly bound to escape the world of native life in 1990 for one in higher education while also conflicted by the prospect of a friendship with April, a local hard Girl played to perfection by newcomer at the time, Paulina Alexis. I was captivated less by the war surrounding them (there are a couple great documentaries by Alanis Obomsawin that are the GOATS of this subject and really worth a watch to better understand the history of the OKA Crisis) and more interested in the rapport between Beans (Kiawentiio) and April. Deer does an amazing job of capturing the teenage voice and although I spent much of the movie reminding myself of why I am not a fan of the Canadian Army, I am also reminded of the many Mohawk girls I grew up with, never knowing the hardships they faced. If Deer ever wishes to remake "The Breakfast Club", but make it about Mohawk kids, April would make an amazing Bender to Beans' Brian the Brain. . . Just putting that out there. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/09/24 Full Review Airplane W I had to watch this for school in English. The Movie takes place in a very interesting time in Canadian history, and is the main point of the movie, but the conflict was not explained very well, and instead the focus is on Beans, the main character who finds new friends and wants to seem cool so proceeds to dress different and drink alcohol (she is 12) and beats up a little girl. The acting is pretty shit and the writing is also bad, and most the characters are not developed enough to be compelling. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 09/22/23 Full Review Mlyna L I enjoyed watching Beans because it is very informative about the suffering of Indigenous people and what happened during the Oka Crisis in 1990. I think it is a good movie for those who are curious and interested in learning about Indigenous History, more specifically the one of Mohawks living in Kanehsatà:ke. While being an opportunity of learning, it is centered on a little girl nicknamed Beans who's 12 years old. While living difficult moments, she grows into become confident and standing up for who she is. As mentioned previously, it is set during the events of the Oka Crisis that lasted during 78 days in the summer of 1990. The reason why I liked the movie is because it was authentic to the reality of the events that occurred. In the beginning of the movie when Mohawks are blocking the bridge, not letting anyone cross it, one of them yells at a driver that if they want to cross the bridge, they'll have to tell their governor to stop stealing their land and trying to kill them. All the anger in the voice of the man showed exhaustion, Indigenous have been stripped of everything they have for centuries, yet they never were violent with us unless forced to, like during the Oka Crisis. Ironically, the word savage has been used to describe Indigenous people by white folks but the uncivilized ones were white people. Throughout the movie, it is said or seen that basic necessities like food, medication and services like ambulance were blocked by the SQ. Another example would be when the Canadian Army got involved, they said women and children could evacuate safely out of the territory where the conflict happened. However, when Beans, her mom and little sister leave, they're welcomed by white people throwing rocks and other dangerous projectiles at their car while police is on the other side of the road watching and doing nothing. In addition, as a Quebecois, it was very frustrating and confusing to watch, I cannot imagine how it must have been for an Indigenous person. Perhaps it is because I cannot grasp fully the situation, but it could have been easily avoided if they had decided to respect Mohawks when they protested because it is their land and there is a cemetery. The disrespect that has been showed towards Indigenous people during Oka Crisis is almost unbelievable, the expansion of a golf course on a regular cemetery would not even be slightly considered by anyone. Equally important, the struggles and generational trauma is shown multiple times during the movie. Indeed, towards the end, Beans almost get sexually abused by her friend's brother and after telling her friend April, she let slip out that she also get sexually abused, by her alcoholic father. In conclusion, Beans might not be for a younger audience, but I think if anyone has the opportunity to watch it, they should, it is a very enriching experience, especially as a Quebecois. People back then failed to realize they were in the wrong by accusing Mohawk protesters instead of protesting with them, however watching this movie is a great way to reflect on Indigenous struggles and not fail to realize that Indigenous people have never been in the wrong, they protect what they have left that has still not have been stolen or destroyed by us. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review danton m Don't let the cover art mislead you. This is an intense look at conflict between races, but also within a young girl as she tries to find her place in a world of violence. Watch it with your kids, knowing there is a lot of profanity, but also much worth talking about with children facing the problems of today. Excellent! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Naïve and biased to fit the narrative to illicit a sympathetic reaction. It is not historically accurate and omits to mention the blockades were set up by the "warriors" and supporters. The army being called in is proof of the threat that the militants posed to the surrounding populations of both Oka and Chateauguay. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review justin w I really wanted to like this because of the perspective and moment in history it portrays... but the acting and writing was pretty awful. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Beans

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Cast & Crew

Collisions 83% 95% Collisions Watchlist TRAILER for Collisions The Fam 94% % The Fam Watchlist Liborio 71% % Liborio Watchlist I'll Meet You There 86% 97% I'll Meet You There Watchlist Jai Bhim 100% 96% Jai Bhim Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Twelve-year-old Beans is on the edge: torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence; forced to grow up fast and become the tough Mohawk warrior she needs to be during the Oka Crisis, the turbulent Indigenous uprising that tore Quebec and Canada apart for 78 tense days in the summer of 1990.
Director
Tracey Deer
Producer
Anne-Marie Gélinas
Screenwriter
Tracey Deer, Meredith Vuchnich
Distributor
FilmRise
Production Co
EMA Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 5, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 5, 2021
Runtime
1h 32m
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