We Were Children

Really heartbreaking to see the true story of the extreme conditions of child abuse in Indian Schools by christian priests. Children forced from their parents into hellish conditions under the false truth that they were to become better people, like their perpetrators thought themselves because of a faith they only misused for their own benefit. People should see this movie. With child abuse still happening all over the world. There should be a lot more focus on getting an end to violence and abuse from people with power over innocent children and people. Sad story. Though very well made.

This is and has been a problem with the church's no discipline or consequences they just move these sick monsters to other places... history never lies but it has a way of repeating itself until these monsters are stopped and exposed for what they really are instead of hiding behind God while committing these atrocities against innocent children.

Hello my name is Julian, I am currently 17 years old and born 1997 to let you know my age for the future. It was an experience to see my people back in the day, and also sad. I am a Cree Native and never really got to learn my language fully, though I believe the people in my community gave up on that since we aren't getting classes for it now from grade 9 to 12. But focus on the movie. This movie is a must-see for those who want to know our history. I believe race shouldn't matter, it's sort of stupid to judge someone based on their skin. What if aliens exist? They would say we are stupid for fighting each other. Sorry if this review isn't mostly about the movie, but I have to speak my mind on how it made me think through it, not to mention I don't want to spoil too much. Just watch it, trust me.

Edit: I corrected and deleted a few sentences from this review. I'm updating this in 2025, but want the review to remain somewhat the same. I still believe this movie is a must-watch given the global acknowledgement of residential schools from when I update this.

I could not stomach these fragments. This movie will bring you to tears and disappointment with this past history of Canada that no one knew about until recent years. Should this movie be for truth and reconciliation? Never.

We should always talk about this.

Tear jerking and anger provoking. This half dramatic part documentary tells how the Canadian government tried to eradicate a race out of their society by making aboriginal children leave their homes and attend church run boarding schools.

Some of the nuns are God crazy and some of the priests put the children through physical, emotional and sexual and mental abuse.

2 of the 80'000 survivors narrate this harrowing true story that only ceased in 1996