The Education of Little Tree [VHS]

The Education of Little Tree [VHS]
by Richard Friedenberg

The Education of Little Tree [VHS]

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Product details

Actor: Christopher Heyerdahl, James Cromwell, Joseph Ashton, Mika Boorem, Tantoo Cardinal
Director: Richard Friedenberg
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Running Time: 117 minutes
Release Date: 1999-03-09
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Publisher: Paramount
Studio: Paramount

VHS Movie Reviews of The Education of Little Tree [VHS]

Movie Review: Enchanting and Moving
Summary: 1 Stars

I've read the book and it's excellent, as was the movie itself. Education of Little Tree is an outstanding story, giving yet an other account of the vicious treatment of Native American Children, by some of the White so called Christians. But it's much more, it's rich with history, and beauty, and a deep love of nature, and expresses the kindness of another kind of White Christian (hill folks) living in the mountains. I liked the way the story is told from the eyes of a child of a mixed blood marriage, sent to live with his grandparents in the mountains in a log cabin. His grandfather is white and married to a Cherokee woman, and they share a deep love of nature and much of the ways of the Cherokee even though they are living in solitude pretty much. Spirituality is a very personal thing and one needn't be surrounded by a tribe to learn the lessons imparted to the boy.
It's great reading, and a great movie, and leaves one saddened but hopeful.

Movie Review: cheese
Summary: 1 Stars

hokey, forced and even though the grandfather is one of my favorite actors, it is so patently moralistic. I don't care if "real" indians were in it - although it wasn't insulting it over-glorifies life in woods at that time.

Movie Review: Spiritualy & Exemplification of UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Summary: 5 Stars

"You just gotta learn as you go [along]" says Grandpa to Little Tree after the little Indian boy makes a mistake of buying a diseased calf with his hard earned 50 cents. Grandpa doesn't chastise the boy, he just loves him. The movie made me miss my grandparents but more importantly, the spirituality of "The WAY" and "The understanding" (death and movement to the afterlife) really powerfully portrays Indian spirituality. I loved that. Its quite a contrast to the old style Indian movies where they were portrayed as savages (up until "Dances with Wolves"). Praying to the Dog Star and having your prayer answered may seem over the top to some, but, this small boy, abused in solitary confinement by "Christians",is a poignant commentary on the hypocrisy of crimes made in the name of Jesus Christ.
After Little Tree is ripped off by paying a Christian Man his only money for a calf with a diseased liver, Little Tree's lesson learned: "I'll never trade again with a man who calls hisself a Christian". The "education" of Little Tree is not all book learning, although there is some of that. He picks up cussing from his Grandpa but is chided gently and lovingly against the habit. Have you ever been to the mountains in Tennessee??? You can still get moonshine in the Appalachian hollers there and in North Carolina too. Soooo, I don't view the moonshine segment of the movie that detrimentally, even for children, because its fairly historically accurate. Children could even enjoy the scene of Little Tree escaping from the "revenuers" (government agents) with his dog, Blue.
Bigotry is also reflected in a little blond white girl who befriends Little Tree. They see each other periodically and like children of that age, cement their friendship by trading/exchanging little items they treasure. The scene of Little Tree seeing his friend for the last time before being shipped off and gifting her with a pair of moccasins made from the hide of his dead calf, is a powerful scene - A good teaching moment for children who may be watching this movie with their parents. A MUST SEE MOVIE.

Movie Review: Touching Film - Think Of Others While Looking At The Dog Star Tonight
Summary: 4 Stars

This is a beautiful small film. It was an interesting enjoyable hour and 50 minutes. The young boy, Little Tree, is simply fantastic. Grandpa is played to perfection. Grandma feels a bit too young, she must be played by a younger actress dressed and made up to look older. Willow John is simply fantastic.

Great cast, lovely setting, heart warming message, calm slow deliberate editing, and decent production - what is not to like about this film. The one tiny chink in the armour is that the story has been told a few times. And there's a sense that we should be in awe about nature and the education. It's a tiny nit to pick, in an otherwise really good movie.

The story is pretty simple. It will make you cry. The director has managed to make the viewer care that much about his characters. But you will also feel wonderful at the very end. And maybe, you'll look up at the Dog Star and think of people that have passed away or that you are separated from.

Yes, I cried about 5 times. Would I watch this movie again, yes. My family disappered after the first half hour, but they were in the mood for some silly comedy. A beautiful small film.

The film is PG, I think the MPAA warning at the beginning said - old fashioned discipline. The boy is 11 in the film. Everything that happens is appropriate for anyone that age to see. There is a moment where a father takes his belt to his daughter. And there's a bit of strong language here and there. But it's a grandpa teaching his grandson the ways of the world. Well, forewarned to make your choices.

The DVD has no special features, only the movie and scene selections.

Movie Review: Politically Correct
Summary: 1 Stars

I rented this movie and was initially delighted with the cinamotography and actors. Not long into the film the thrust of the message became overt: all things Indian are wise, good and wonderful; all things white or Christian are hypocritic, laughable and not to be trusted. The writer commited the same atrocity on whites and Christians that was done to American Indians by the U.S. government and white settlers that were biggoted, selfish and downright evil. You don't right wrongs by portraying history incorrectly or by blanket statements that condem all. In the end, what could have been a good movie became predictable, a lie and boring.

Write your own review

Summary of The Education of Little Tree [VHS]

In 1935, an 8-year-old orphaned boy is sent to live in the Tennessee mountains with his grandparents. He doesn't yet know that he is half Cherokee, on his grandmother's side. As he learns about life and the Cherokee "way" from his grandparents, Little Tree's sensitivity to nature and to others grows.

At first it might seem easy to dismiss this movie as hokey, especially when Little Tree's Scottish grandfather teaches him to make whiskey and he befriends a dog. But the film gains emotional power when Little Tree becomes close to an older Cherokee who tells him about the Trail of Tears. When the government places Little Tree in an Indian school, where he is abused physically and psychologically, the tough issue of the forced assimilation of Native Americans isn't glossed over. Excellent performances and a gripping story make this well worth watching with children ages 8 and up.

An interesting side note: Forrest Carter, who wrote the book the movie is based on, was a one-time KKK member and speechwriter for George Wallace. It's hard to imagine how a former white supremacist could write such a moving tale about racism. Despite the controversy surrounding Carter, this sensitive film deserves to be taken on its own terms. --Elisabeth Keating

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