Where the Spirit Lives

Where the Spirit Lives is a 1989 television film about Aboriginal children in Canada being taken from their tribes to attend residential schools for assimilation into majority culture. Written by Keith Ross Leckie and directed by Bruce Pittman, it aired on CBC Television on October 29, 1989.[2] It was also shown in the United States on PBS on June 6, 1990, as part of the American Playhouse series[3][4] and was screened at multiple film festivals in Canada and the United States.

Where the Spirit Lives
Promotional poster
Directed byBruce Pittman
Produced by
Written byKeith Ross Leckie
Starring
Music byBuffy Sainte-Marie
CinematographyRene Ohashi
Edited byMichael Todd
Production
company
Distributed byAmazing Spirit Productions Ltd.
Running time
96 min.
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.6 million[1]

The film stars Michelle St. John as Amelia, a young Kainai girl captured and confined to the residential school system of the 1930s. The system was an attempt to have aboriginal youth to assimilate into the majority European-Canadian culture. Amelia resists assimilation and plans her escape. The film's cast includes Ann-Marie MacDonald and David Hemblen as teachers at the school.

Plot

In 1937, a young Kainai girl named Ashtoh-Komi is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a Canadian policy to educate Aboriginal children and assimilate them into Canadian/British society. She is taken to a boarding school, where she is forced to adopt Western Euro-centric ways and learn English, often under harsh treatment. Combined with the rejection of her peers (as she is a so-called "Bush Indian" who has not learnt white customs), Komi attempts to escape one night on foot with her little brother, Pita. However her plan is quickly foiled as the Indian Agent assigned to the school, Taggert, catches up and brings them back to the school; where Komi is subjected to further punishment. Eventually Rachel, Komi's only ally among the students, plead with the teachers to free her by promising to teach Komi to behave.

One teacher, Kathleen Gwillimbury, is portrayed as sympathetic and she becomes repelled by the bigotry of others at the school. She offers Komi help in the form of giving her English lessons which culminate in cultural exchange, where Kathleen learns Kainai words from Komi in exchange for her learning their English counterparts. Now Amelia, Komi improves her English quickly with the kindness and support of her teacher, gradually adjusting to the school environment while retaining her Kainai identity. But when Amelia learns that the teachers lied to her by telling her her parents had died, she decides to escape again, this time successfully.

Cast

Production

The idea for the film originated when the producers and screenwriter were working on the 13-episode CBC television series Spirit Bay, which focused on native children growing up on a Northern Ontario Indian reserve. They "kept hearing bitter stories about residential schools"[1] and were inspired to tell a story about that system in a film.

Primary financing for the film's $2.6 million budget was provided by Telefilm Canada ($1.25 million) and the CBC ($500,000), who secured first rights to the film. Other financing came from the Ontario Film Development Corporation, Mid-Canada TV, and Atlantis Releasing. Canadian film director and producer Norman Jewison "personally contributed $12,500, half the cost of making a theatrical print for film festivals",[7] with the other half supplied by the Ontario Film Development Corp.

The film began shooting on September 26, 1988.[8] Locations included Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta and Toronto.[9]

Screenings

Although created for television, the film was shot in 35 mm[1] and as a result was able to be screened in theaters. It was shown at various film festivals in Canada and the United States from 1989 through 2002. It was also screened at some colleges and universities, as part of college film festivals,[10][11] classes,[12] or special events related to Indigenous or Native American studies.[13]

Film festival screenings included:

Awards

The film won nine awards and was nominated for two additional awards.[24]

Specific awards include:

  • 1989: Bruce Pittman won the Best Director award at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco.[24]
  • 1989: Pittman won the Gold Plaque in the category of Television Production – Feature Film Made for TV – Network Special Achievement in Direction at the Chicago International Film Festival.[24]
  • 1989: The film won the Most Popular Canadian Film (audience award) at the Vancouver International Film Festival.[25][24]
  • 1989: The film won the South Florida Critics Special Jury Prize for Drama at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Film Festival.[26]
  • 1990: The film won four Gemini Awards:
    • Best TV Movie, presented to its producers[27]
    • Michelle St. John for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series[27]
    • Ann-Marie MacDonald for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress[28]
    • Michael Todd for Best Picture Editing in a Dramatic Program or Series[24]
  • 1990: The film was nominated for two additional Gemini Awards:[24]
    • Pittman for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
    • Keith Ross Leckie for Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series
  • 1990: Pittman and the film won the Lucas Award at the Lucas International Festival of Films for Children and Young People.[24]

See also

References
  1. Burliuk, Greg (September 8, 1989). "Jewison Film About Native Schoolgirl Is Festival's Gem". Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario, Canada. p. 1. ProQuest 353348770. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  2. Bawden, Jim; Knutzen, Eirick (September 9, 1989). "Minis, Specials, Movies: Fall 1989 Preview". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. S18. ProQuest 436032190. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  3. Ruth, Daniel (June 6, 1990). "PBS' 'Spirit' conjures strong images of racism". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, IL. p. 41.
  4. "Where the Spirit Lives (1989) Release Info". IMDb.com. 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  5. "Where the Spirit Lives (1989): Full cast & crew". IMDb.com. 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. Hartl, John (May 3, 1991). "Assimilating the Indian Population". The Seattle Times. Seattle, WA. p. Tempo section, 25.
  7. Adilman, Sid (October 7, 1989). "Little movie that was a big hit at film fest bound for small screen". The Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. J1. ProQuest 436057948. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  8. "Blackfoot girl's story told in $2.6 million film". The Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. September 27, 1988. p. Entertainment section, B3. ProQuest 435774540. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  9. "Where the Spirit Lives (1989): Filming & Production". IMDb.com. 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  10. "Mercyhurst College Film Festival". Erie Times-News. Erie, PA. September 26, 2000.
  11. "Indian Film Festival Begins Nov. 1 at UND". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, ND. October 22, 2011. p. C6.
  12. Cohen, Betsy (April 18, 2005). "Talks at University Cover Wide Range of Topics". Missoulian. Missoula, MT.
  13. "Keepers of Fire Powwow April 17 – 18 at University of Wyoming". US Fed News. April 2, 2010.
  14. Sachs, Lloyd (October 1, 1989). "Cinema of the Great White North". Chicago Sun Times. Chicago, IL. p. Show section, 10.
  15. Coto, Juan Carlos (September 29, 1989). "Film Fest Features Wood Retrospective". The Miami Herald. Miami, FL. p. 8BR.
  16. Russell, Candice (October 20, 1989). "Word's Really Out on Fourth Film Fete: Film Festival Schedule". Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, FL. p. Features Showtime section, 3.
  17. Stone, Judy (November 9, 1989). "American Indian Festival Opens Tonight". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. p. E4.
  18. Strickler, Jeff (May 11, 1990). "Probing the blackness of Hiroshima 'Rain'". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, MN. p. Variety section, 1E.
  19. "Summer of '90 A Memorable One on the Big Screen". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Seattle, WA. July 20, 1990. p. What's Happening Section, 8.
  20. Russell, Candice (October 28, 1990). "60 Independent Films, Seminars and Galas Will Send Greater Fort Lauderdale Film Festival Goers Reeling". Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, FL. p. Features Arts & Leisure section, 1G.
  21. Stone, Judy (November 8, 1990). "New Films Faithful to Indians". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, CA. p. E4.
  22. Millar, Jeff (April 29, 1992). "WorldFest Houston: Film Fest Offers World Premiere Tonight". Houston Chronicle. Houston, TX. p. 4.
  23. Bell Gease, Heidi (December 10, 2001). "Indian Film Fest Coming to Rapid City". The Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, SD.
  24. "Where The Spirit Lives (1989) Awards". IMDb.com. 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  25. "Brando may be villain in new David Lean film". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Canadian Press. October 18, 1989. p. C4. ProQuest 436052329. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  26. Ishoy, Ron (December 14, 1990). "Majors Feel Right at Home in Lauderdale". Miami Herald. Miami, FL. p. Living Today section, 1E.
  27. Anderson, Bill (December 5, 1990). "CBC's Love and Hate, Avonlea lead Geminis". Waterloo Region Record. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. p. H1. ProQuest 275185740. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  28. Zerbisias, Antonia (December 4, 1990). "CBC celebrates at k.d.'s cafe as it sweeps Gemini awards". Toronto Star. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. p. D1. ProQuest 436315677. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
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