Burning Cane

Released Oct 25, 2019

1 hr. 17 min.

Drama

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List

91%

47 Reviews

Tomatometer

35%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

An aging mother who lives in cane fields of rural Louisiana, is torn between her religious convictions and the love of her son.

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Critics Consensus

Burning Cane is a compelling look at weighty themes -- and a remarkably assured debut from an impressively talented young filmmaker.

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Audience Member

Horrible film, not even worth watching on Netflix.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/22

Full Review

tony h

Far TOO SLOW, and so apparently POINTLESS, even as it SEEMED to be trying to say something worthwhile. Most certainly a wasted opportunity all around: Do NOT waste any more time on this.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

zach m

This seemed like a pretty "real" depiction of people who have been marginalized, and many of them are suffering from serious alcohol use disorders. There's some harshness to it, but it comes across as being pretty honest.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow-burn wouldn't be an issue if it wasn't repetitive - this slice of life representation of depressing squalor is portrayed in very few shades. Smoking, drinking and monotonous sermons are atmospheric and naturalistic, which would be a welcome addition to a solid story. However, it is an achievement for a 17 year old and hopefully the young director will build upon all the laurels instead of falling asleep on them.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Yes, I know the director is only 17, but this has to be one of the worst films I ever saw. If it was a senior high school project I would have been more gentle in my review. But this film is now on the world stage. I saw its premiere at Tribecca and thought I was alone in hating it until I polled people around me. We all found the movie depressing, the editing a mystery and the end a complete enigma. This young man has promise, but he is far from where he should be putting his films in theaters yet. About the only saving grace was good acting and that wasn't easy in this failed film.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

wayne m

Burning Cane is a small and delicate film that offers up food for thought and beautiful images, but is also a mess narratively and strangely disappointing. Made by 19yo Phillip Yeomans I feel this film could have been better with more development and structure. Set in rural Louisiana, it is about a woman named Helen who struggles to understand how best to love and help her alcoholic son and the alcoholic pastor of her church. The pastor is played superbly by Wendell Pierce and is the highlight of this film. The film does make important commentary on toxic masculinity and the overbearing power of the chutrch. But I feel the film tries to hard to be impressive rather than making a film with a cogent story. A film of promise but lacking true effectiveness.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Phillip Michael Youmans

Director

Wendell Pierce

Reverend Tillman

Karen Kaia Livers

Helen Wayne

Dominique McClellan

Daniel Wayne

Braelyn Kelly

Jeremiah Wayne

Cynthia Capers

Marsha Bland

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Burning Cane: Trailer 1

2:08

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Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

Burning Cane delivers a thoughtful, unyielding statement here about generational trauma, the false promise of religion, and the dire circumstances facing the rural poor.

Mar 25, 2020

Full Review

Adam Mullins-Khatib

Chicago Reader

Youmans, who was 17 while making the film, presents not only an advanced visual language and style for his age but a striking emotional nuance in the portrayal of his characters...

Dec 3, 2019

Full Review

Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

Deeply moving and a little bit tragic.

Nov 8, 2019

Full Review

Kathia Woods

Cup of Soul

The Black Church, Toxic masculinity and alcoholism these are the themes that are examined in first time directors Philip Youmans drama Burning Cane.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

Matthew St. Clair

Cinema Sentries

It's quite a slow burn of a movie which will test some people's patience but it still deserves a watch regardless.

Sep 30, 2020

Full Review

Carla Hay

Culture Mix

Stepping into the emotionally intense world of Burning Cane is like being stuck in blistering heat in rural Laurel Valley, Louisiana, where the movie takes place.

Jul 11, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

An aging mother who lives in cane fields of rural Louisiana, is torn between her religious convictions and the love of her son.

Director: Phillip Michael Youmans
Screenwriter: Phillip Michael Youmans
Distributor: Array Releasing
Production Co: Denizen Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2019