Fire Song

Before watching, I was a little surprised by the avg 4.9 rating here and the fact that Netflix predicted I'd love it. Normally, if a film has fewer than 6 stars, it's a real dud. Not this one.

This film has a number of weaknesses (scenes that don't quite fit or seem a little forced) and strengths (editing, filming, acting are all very good). It's a coming-of-age story that, for me, didn't come off very well (the main storyline needed a bit more substance) but still held my interest. I liked a number of the characters and felt I was getting to see a bit of what may be going on a few hundred miles north of me--at least to a degree. In the end, the picture was satisfying enough where I was glad I saw it.

If the low rating is still there, yet you're reading the reviews to see if you want to invest a little time, give it a try. It certainly isn't for everyone. I doubt I'll ever own the DVD. But if you're interested, it is well-done enough that it may speak to you or be good entertainment.

This movie tackles many issues that are not only common but prevalent on reservations. Alcohol and drug abuse, high suicide rates, homophobia, and trying to find any way to escape the place that is holding you back. The characters are well thought out, and stay very true to what Native people are like. There is not a lot of emotion shown in tribal settings. This movie shows what it is like to be a two spirit person since colonization, onece respected leaders in tribes, the white settlers first tried to erase this by forcing Christianity down native peoples throats. If you have never live on a reservation this movie is a bit hard to follow. I suggest doing some research on the conditions on reservations.