Sugarcane

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

"Sugarcane" is an emotionally, chilling and disturbing documentary that explores the abuse indigenous individuals had experienced in residential schools and explores the horrifying actions from the government with strong discussions from the participants, great sense of direction and deeply personal insights of the situation.

Many of the camerawork, sound designs and the conversations from the participants were beautiful, depressing, and emotional as learning about what the people have encountered in these schools is horrifying and upsetting. No individuals should have to suffer should abuse.

Despite some of the documentary structure feeling slow, it still remains an important documentary to see.

SUGARCANE (2024) Nominated for Best Documentary Feature. Instead of righteous (and justified) anger, filmmakers Julian Brave Noisecat and Emily Kassie take an introspective and personal viewpoint in telling their sad story of the Canadian Residential education program where Native Indigenous Tribe members were placed in predominantly Catholic run boarding schools (similar programs were also set up in the U. S.).

The St. Joseph's Mission which the Documentary focuses on, was the site of such horrors as underage pregnancies, sexual abuse, violence, deaths and even murder. Noisecat's father was one of the victims who survived. Many others weren't so fortunate. The cover-up and lies involving Priests who, even when found to be molesters, were simply transferred to other reservations.

What distinguishes SUGARCANE (named for the location of the Mission) is how it displays that the crimes committed there have reverberated through multiple generations. St. Joseph's closed in 1981, but the program lasted until 1997. It's a dark cloud that looms over the Secwepemc people. Noisecat and Kassie never over-dramatize and let the people tell their own stories (including Noisecat and his father). As one elder implores early on that she wants the younger Secwepemc to "bear witness" to the events in order for their nation to heal.

This intimate look at a devastating community history was jarring and beautiful. I was moved beyond words, horrified at the actions of the canadian government and catholic church, and my heart aches for the countless people affected by the abuse and trauma. Many stories from the community are interwoven, giving a glimpse into the complex ways residential schools have poisoned generations of people. The resilience and courage of the subjects of this film cannot be understated. This piece felt deeply personal and widely relatable. The emotional toll it took was great and necessary. We are so lucky to hear this story.

Nominated this year for Best Documentary feature comes this sobering tale of sexual improprieties inflicted by the Catholic church upon Canadian Indigenous children up until shockingly recently. Taking testimony from survivors of the atrocities, now in their later years, which detail multiple deaths (infants born of rape were disposed of in mass graves or in incinerators) that a small group of investigators try to solve (even though we hear in voice over a mass grave was found) while memories of the past are pried open to reveal past evils. Just as a piece exposing historical sins by the church is enough for someone to tune in & be horrified but as these stories keep emerging (similar feats were performed by the church in Australia & Ireland in fictional accounts like RabbitProof Fence & The Magdalene Sisters) people wonder how far the church has fallen in the minds of most parishoners.

This documentary was genuinely heartbreaking. I had heard of the residential schools and their atrocities but never knew the extent of it. Hearing first hand accounts and seeing the lasting impact the schools had on individuals and the generations that followed provided a new perspective on the issue. The only reason I did not give it a 10 was because it felt a little slow at times. Despite the pace the cinematography was stunning and it allowed the viewer time to soak it in and think. Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie wanted to raise awareness and educate others and they succeeded in their goal.