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In the Beginning was Water and Sky opens with the ominous lede about the hundreds of Indian boarding schools that were opened during the 19th Century in the United States. Their goal was to eradicate Native American culture by "reeducating" Native children in the "American way".
The short follows a very loose narrative, but it mostly focuses on two of these children (Norma-Sue Hill and Shohnáhose Davin Bomberry) as they are taken from their tribe into one of these boarding schools. There they are witnesses to mistreatment, torture, and abuse from the leaders.
There is little dialogue, but director and writer Ryan Ward features some gorgeous visuals to send his message, accompanied by very effective use of Native music. The short seems to be an effort to create awareness about these events, so hopefully the more people see it, the less "gone" the Native American culture will be.
Grade:
IN THE BEGINNING WAS WATER AND SKY
(2017, Ward)
A film featuring Native American characters
(2017, Ward)
A film featuring Native American characters
"When you return, everything you know will be gone."
In the Beginning was Water and Sky opens with the ominous lede about the hundreds of Indian boarding schools that were opened during the 19th Century in the United States. Their goal was to eradicate Native American culture by "reeducating" Native children in the "American way".
The short follows a very loose narrative, but it mostly focuses on two of these children (Norma-Sue Hill and Shohnáhose Davin Bomberry) as they are taken from their tribe into one of these boarding schools. There they are witnesses to mistreatment, torture, and abuse from the leaders.
There is little dialogue, but director and writer Ryan Ward features some gorgeous visuals to send his message, accompanied by very effective use of Native music. The short seems to be an effort to create awareness about these events, so hopefully the more people see it, the less "gone" the Native American culture will be.
Grade: