Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 2020
Beans (2020 film)
Buy Beans (2020 film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Beans' is a 2020 Canadian drama film directed by Mohawk-Canadian filmmaker Tracey Deer. It explores the 1990 Oka Crisis at Kanesatake, which Deer lived through as a child, through the eyes of Tekehentahkhwa (nicknamed "Beans"), a young Mohawk girl whose perspective on life is radically changed by these events.Norman Wilner, [https://www.straight.com/movies/viff-review-tracey-deers-beans-finds-its-hero-coming-of-age-during-oka-crisis "VIFF review: Tracey Deers 'Beans' finds its hero coming of age during the Oka crisis"]. 'The Georgia Straight', September 16, 2020.
The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival,Victoria Ahearn, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/tiff/2020/07/30/tiff-announces-all-50-titles-for-pandemic-tailored-2020-event.html "TIFF announces all 50 titles for pandemic-tailored 2020 event"]. 'Toronto Star', July 30, 2020. where it was second runner up for the People's Choice Award. It was also featured at the 2021 New York International Children's Film Festival, among others.
The film won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Picture at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021,Naman Ramachandran, [https://variety.com/2021/tv/global/schitts-creek-blood-quantum-canadian-screen-awards-1234978520/ "Schitts Creek, Blood Quantum Triumph at Canadian Screen Awards"]. 'Variety', May 21, 2021. along with the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award.
Plot
Tekehentahkhwa, who goes by the nickname "Beans", is a preteen who lives on a reservation in Kahnawake; she is encouraged by her mother, Lily, to try to apply for a prestigious school in Montreal, something her father opposes.
After seeing their cousin Karahwen'hawi on TV protesting the expansion of a golf course into Kahnawake territory, the entire family drives down to support the protestors. Beans and her little sister are quickly caught up in a police raid, which strengthens her parents' resolve to stay and help during the protest. Tensions grow fast. Barricades are built and the Kahnawake territory is isolated. Food runs short and women and children are given the possibility to evacuate. Outside, protesters throw rocks at the evacuating cars.
In the meantime, Beans befriends April, an older girl she seeks to emulate. April teaches Beans to toughen up, in a hard way.
Cast
* Kiawentiio as Beans/Tekehentahkhwa
* Rainbow Dickerson as Lily
* Violah Beauvais as Ruby
* Paulina Alexis as April
* D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Hank
Production
The semi-autobiographical story is based on historic events that Deer lived through as a child. While she includes harsh events, she has said she wanted to avoid having the film be traumatic for viewers. It is recommended for viewers of 14+ in age. Filming took place in Kahnawake and Montreal in 2019.
Deer began writing the script in 2012, in collaboration with Meredith Vuchnich. It was a long, seven-year process, partly because revisiting the Oka Crisis brought up difficult memories. She sought therapy to help her deal with them.
Release
'Beans' had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2020.
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of based on reviews, with an average rating of . The site's critical consensus reads, "'Beans' opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio."The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.
Accolades
References
Buy Beans (2020 film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 2020