Beans (2020 film)
{{short description|2020 film by Tracey Deer}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Beans
| image = Beans (2020 film).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Film poster
| director = Tracey Deer
| producer = Anne-Marie Gélinas
| writer = {{ubl|Tracey Deer|Meredith Vuchnich}}
| starring = {{ubl|Kiawentiio|Rainbow Dickerson|Violah Beauvais|Paulina Alexis}}
| music = Mario Sévigny
| cinematography = Marie Davignon
| editing = Sophie Farkas Bolla
| studio = EMA Films
| distributor = Mongrel Media
| released = {{Film date|2020|09|13|TIFF}}
| runtime = 92 minutes
| country = Canada
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
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 Deer’s '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/ "‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘Blood Quantum’ Triumph at Canadian Screen Awards"]. Variety, May 21, 2021. along with the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award.{{Cite web|last=mbiance|title=Finalistes et gagnants {{!}} Prix Écrans canadiens 2021|url=http://academie.ca/prixecranscanadiens/569/finalistes-et-gagnants|access-date=2021-07-02|website=academie.ca|language=fr}} It was nominated for the Prix Iris for Best Screenplay at the 24th Quebec Cinema Awards in 2022.Charles-Henri Ramond, [https://www.filmsquebec.com/finalistes-aux-prix-iris-2022/ "Finalistes aux Prix Iris 2022"]. Films du Québec, April 14, 2022.
Plot
Tekehentahkhwa, who goes by the nickname "Beans", is a bright preteen who lives in Kahnawake, a Mohawk reserve along the St. Lawrence River. She is encouraged by her mother, Lily, to try to apply to a prestigious, predominantly white school in Montreal, something her father opposes.
After seeing their cousin Karahwen'hawi on TV protesting the expansion of a golf course into Kahnesatake territory, another Mohawk reserve upriver, the entire family drives to the area to support the protestors. The Mohawk land is surrounded by the town of Oka, Quebec, which was seeking to expand its golf course into a historic Mohawk cemetery. 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 Kahnesatake 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 in smoking, cursing, and friendships with boys. April teaches Beans to toughen up, often violently.
The army is brought in to replace local police, and tensions rise among protesters and the military. Beans, her younger sister Ruby, and her mother Lily are relocated to a nearby hotel with other Mohawk women and children from the community. Beans attends a party in the hotel with April and some older teens, where she drinks alcohol and has her first kiss with April's older brother. In the hotel lobby, Beans starts a fight with a white girl around her same age, causing Beans and her family to be removed from the hotel.
Beans, Ruby, Lily, April, and April's brother return home by sneaking through the barricade, just as Lily is about to give birth. As Lily is in labor, Beans attends a campfire with April and her friends. April's brother takes Beans aside and asks for a blowjob, then becomes aggressive when Beans refuses.
When Beans goes to April for help, April implies that her father (and possibly her brother) has been sexually abusing her. Beans returns home, where her mother has given birth safely.
Some time later, Beans helps April sneak out of her father's place so that her friend can move in with her grandmother. Beans and her family meet with their cousin Hawi, who declares that an agreement has been reached with the government to protect the native burial ground and prevent the city's golf course expansion. Beans starts at the prestigious private school in the fall, where she proudly introduces herself as Tekehentahkhwa, her full Mohawk name.
Cast
- Kiawentiio as Beans/Tekehentahkhwa
- Rainbow Dickerson as Lily
- {{ill|Violah Beauvais|qid=Q125706116|short=yes}} as Ruby
- Paulina Alexis as April
- Joel Montgrand as Kania'tariio
- {{ill|Jay Cardinal Villeneuve|qid=Q125705762|short=yes}} as Gary
- D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Hank
- {{ill|Taio Gélinas|qid=Q108117643|short=yes}} as Coyote
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.{{cite web|last=Steuter-Martin|first=Marilla|date=22 September 2019|title=Tracey Deer captures 'shattered innocence' with film set during Oka Crisis|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/tracey-deer-film-beans-1.5292274|access-date=30 July 2020|publisher=CBC News}} Filming took place in Kahnawake and Montreal in 2019.{{cite web |title=Production Underway on BEANS, Directed by Tracey Deer |url=http://cfccreates.com/news/pressroom/325-production-underway-on-beans-directed-by-tracey-deer |website=Canadian Film Centre |date=12 September 2019 |access-date=30 July 2020}}
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.{{cite web |last=Horn |first=Greg |title=Deer's "Beans" shows Oka Crisis through the eyes of a 12-year-old |url=http://kahnawakenews.com/deers-beans-shows-oka-crisis-through-the-eyes-of-a-yearold-p2893-1.htm |website=Kahnawake News |date=19 September 2019 |access-date=30 July 2020}} The screenplay was the winner of the TIFF-CBC Films Screenwriter Award in 2019.Lauren Malyk, [https://playbackonline.ca/2019/01/25/tracey-deer-meredith-vuchnich-win-tiff-cbc-films-screenwriter-award/ "Tracey Deer, Meredith Vuchnich win TIFF-CBC screenwriter award"]. Playback, January 25, 2019.
Release
Beans had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2020.
Reception
=Critical response=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|91|7.6|54|Beans opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beans_2021|title=Beans|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date=October 9, 2023}} {{Metacritic film prose|74|13}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/beans/|title=Beans|website=Metacritic|access-date=October 9, 2023}}
The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.{{cite web |first=Victoria |last=Ahearn |url=https://www.squamishchief.com/toronto-international-film-festival-releases-top-ten-lists-for-2020-1.24252475 |title=Toronto International Film Festival releases Top Ten lists for 2020 |work=Squamish Chief |date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104154028/https://www.squamishchief.com/toronto-international-film-festival-releases-top-ten-lists-for-2020-1.24252475 |url-status=dead }}
=Accolades=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|11735544}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|beans_2020}}
- [http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=filvidandsou&id=571924&lang=eng Beans] at Library and Archives Canada
{{ACCT Best Picture}}
{{John Dunning Award}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Canadian Film}}
{{VIFF Best Canadian Film}}
Category:Films shot in Montreal
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:English-language Canadian films
Category:Canadian coming-of-age drama films
Category:Films directed by Tracey Deer
Category:Drama films based on actual events
Category:2020s coming-of-age drama films
Category:Best First Feature Genie and Canadian Screen Award–winning films
Category:Best Picture Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners