Too much of everything

To me, this movie is perfection.

Memorable, crazy movie

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

The first time I've ever written a review, but I felt compelled to warn others. Not since I watched Werewolves versus Vikings have I seen a film so poorly written with a multitude of clichés and very questionable acting. The subject matter may be serious at heart but it is cosseted in a third rate ghost story with elements that are not only implausible but also insulting to the audience. It truly has failed as a film because it belittles the subject matter it was trying to highlight. I watched this on demand and it's the first time in a long time that I haven't been able to watch something right to the end. I assume that other reviewers have given it higher ratings out of respect for the background message of the film, but that really can't excuse or compensate for the fact that this simply is a poor film.

What can I say? As an African-American the experience of the Indian-American is an exercise in parallels in many ways. Still, 1975 America is like Australia for the aborigine and the Maori of New Zealand. So much horror has been done in the name of the Christian God that it begs the question why any non-European wears the cross. This was less a movie than an historical journey into the time when all aboriginal people worldwide were subjected to the death of their cultures to save the savage men, women and children by the most unforgiving and brutal heathens calling themselves called to do the work of god. How can one have an identity when the spirit is broken and the psyche is fractured? This is an abject lesson for humanity founded on the religious principle that debt is the best slavery and the seeking of everlasting forgiveness of those debts keeps strong the invisible chains of bondage. Know thyself must mean more than what the European wants you to know about your ancestry. For the people who thought the acting was not so good well somethings are better left for historic value and not subjected to Hollywood's version as in "Dancing With Wolves," although I loved Two Socks!

This movie really is not a view of life in boarding schools, per se. I don't believe it was intended to be. It is a metaphor for the effects still felt today by nearly all Native Americans here in the U.S. The movie "is" a period place. All of the issues that the story touches base on are those that Natives all over Indian Country are dealing with today. It is not the direct reflection of one single reason why Natives today face the afflictions of poverty, alcoholism, abuse, unemployment, illiteracy, and loss of identity as a culture, but the culmination of many. Forced attendance into an institution specifically designed to strip away everything it means to be "Indian" just so happens to be the primary area of focus in this film. The sub-plots add depth to the characters as well as much needed comic relief. Even though this film is classified as a drama, it should be shown in every history class across the United States, right after the lesson on the first "Thanksgiving".

Government worker Luke Patterson (Bradley Cooper) goes to a small Native American reservation to find out about a mild earthquake there. He becomes friends with the Indian Chief of Police (Adam Beach) and finds an abandoned school building where the earthquake took place. It seems some very mysterious and horrifying events took place there years ago--but the church and some local officials are covering it up. But things are starting to happen and the building may be haunted by creepy dead children.**DEFINITE SPOILERS!** This is based on true events. It seems up until the early 70s, Indian children were taken from their parents and forced to attend a Catholic school. There they were told to speak English only and worship God. If they disobeyed they were punished severely. This works into the story and it's downright horrifying. I knew nothing about this and, it seems, it's STILL not talked about. Filmmaker Georgina Lightning was very brave to get funding for this and get it released. ""END SPOILERS**Totally engrossing. I was never bored for one minute. I saw it at a film festival and the audience got so caught up in it they were actually gasping and saying "no" when the villain went after the good guys. Cooper's (who's excellent) story gets sidetracked completely after the first 30 minutes. Then it throws you head first into a story involving murders, ghosts, child abuse (VERY disturbing), visions, electro shock treatments--this movie doesn't hold back. It is difficult to watch but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. Disturbing and difficult but always fascinating. A 10 all the way.