Sugarcane sneaks up on you with the concept of the gatekeepers of indigenous cultures that keep history alive for the next generation and beyond. The concept is essential in modern culture because of the practice of assimilation and acculturation among these vast and varied populations across North America. Frankly, the term assimilation is just a cover for, for all intents and purposes, genocide.
In this case, the spread of Christianity is displacing children from Indigenous and Inuit communities in the name of faith. Except this was their beard. A smiley face to cover the darker side of God’s will. This was an extension of colonialism, plain and simple, but stamped with the title of “the Native American Boarding School System.” There were locations from Alaska all the way down to Northern Florida.
That’s what’s at stake in the powerful documentary Sugarcane. The documentary feature is from directors Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat, and it explores the current St. Joseph’s Mission (SJM) Investigation as a broader canvas to explore personal stories of physical and sexual abuse. These stories not only impact the individual but have devastating effects across generations.
From 1886 to 1981, the Catholic Oblates administered the Indian Residential School, part of the Canadian residential school system. On the Sugarcane reserve, they forcibly placed thousands of Indigenous children at the school against their will. The horror never stops there. The children were molested, impregnated by the staff, and killed. Succumbing to iron-fist tactics and rampant sexual abuse throughout powerful religious organizations.
Efforts are underway at SJM to find the bodies of hundreds of children in unmarked graves as teachers, nuns, and priests cover up their sins. This is why the “gatekeeping” of the Williams Lake First Nation and other First Nations communities is so important. One purpose is to prevent future ignorance. The other is to understand the historical context of laws, which requires better comprehension.
That’s where Sugarcane develops its raw power. Trauma, like rocks shaped on the bottom of a river floor, can shape victims and their families for generations. Many tell the same story. Witnessing the murders of infants and bodies then tossed into furnaces still lingers in horrific images that have taken their toll.
Take, for instance, the director’s father, Ed Archie NoiseCat. Similar to Minding the Gap, the filmmaker wants to explore why the father self-medicated with alcohol, even abandoning him years earlier. The elder NoiseCat’s story slowly unfolds, tears still coming to the man’s face as he goes over the abuse. The filmmakers even produce a news story connecting how he ended up in the facility; that’s jaw-dropping.
Then, you have the other side of assimilation with the story of Rick Gilbert. He was a profoundly religious man who somehow kept his faith in the Catholic Church. This is despite suffering the same sexual abuse during his time at SJM. They live their lives differently, yet the same trauma bonds them.
Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat make connections in Sugarcane over 150 days that are remarkable. From family member to family member, system to system, organization to organization, and stranger to stranger, each story makes for a fascinating case study on top of a profound mystery. And that’s not just where the bodies are buried. Sugarcane takes its time with reflection and introspection of hate and its effects.
There are lasting images of Sugarcane, but one that will last with you is the image of the Virgin Mary with a splattering of red as the documentary opens. It’s a stunning visual that brutally encompasses this socially conscious film. Sugarcane’s presentation of the issue is horrifyingly honest and thoughtful, which makes Emily Kassie and Julian Brave NoiseCat’s film essential viewing.
Sugarcane had its World Premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition section of the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Directors: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie
Rated: NR
Runtime: 107m
Sugarcane is essential viewing. Emily Kassie and Julian Brave Noise Cat's documentary film is a haunting and overwhelmingly powerful examination of religious assimilation.
-
GVN Rating 10
-
User Ratings (3 Votes)
9.8
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.