Beans (2020 film)

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.[1]

Beans
Film poster
Directed byTracey Deer
Written by
  • Tracey Deer
  • Meredith Vuchnich
Produced byAnne-Marie Gélinas
Starring
CinematographyMarie Davignon
Edited bySophie Farkas Bolla
Music byMario Sévigny
Production
company
EMA Films
Distributed byMongrel Media
Release date
  • September 13, 2020 (2020-09-13) (TIFF)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival,[2] 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,[3] along with the John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award.[4]

Plot

Tekehentahkhwa, who goes by the nickname "Beans", is a preteen who lives on a reservation in Kahnawake; she is encouraged by her mother, Lily, to try to apply for a prestigious school in Montreal, something her father opposes.

After seeing their cousin Karahwen'hawi on TV protesting the expansion of a golf course into Kahnawake territory, the entire family drives down to support the protestors. 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 Kahnawake 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. April teaches Beans to toughen up, in a hard way.

Cast

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.[5] Filming took place in Kahnawake and Montreal in 2019.[6]

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.[7]

Release

Beans had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2020.[2]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Beans opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio."[8]

The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.[9]

Accolades
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards May 20, 2021 Best Picture Anne-Marie Gélinas Won [10]
Best Cinematography Marie Davignon Nominated
Best Sound Mixing Stéphane Bergeron, Yann Cleary Nominated
Best Casting in a Film Maxime Giroux Nominated
John Dunning Best First Feature Award Tracey Deer Won
Directors Guild of Canada October 2020 DGC Discovery Award Tracey Deer Won [11]
Kingston Canadian Film Festival February 26–March 7, 2021 Limestone Financial People's Choice Award Tracey Deer Won [12]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle March 8, 2021 Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film Rainbow Dickerson Won [13]
One to Watch Kiawentiio Won
Vancouver International Film Festival September 24–October 7, 2020 Best Canadian Feature Film Tracey Deer Won [14]
Writers Guild of Canada April 26, 2021 Best Feature Film Tracey Deer, Meredith Vuchinich Won [15]
Toronto Film Critics Association March 2022 Best Canadian Film Beans Won [16]

References
  1. Norman Wilner, "VIFF review: Tracey Deer’s 'Beans' finds its hero coming of age during the Oka crisis". The Georgia Straight, September 16, 2020.
  2. Victoria Ahearn, "TIFF announces all 50 titles for pandemic-tailored 2020 event". Toronto Star, July 30, 2020.
  3. Naman Ramachandran, "‘Schitt’s Creek,’ ‘Blood Quantum’ Triumph at Canadian Screen Awards". Variety, May 21, 2021.
  4. mbiance. "Finalistes et gagnants | Prix Écrans canadiens 2021". academie.ca (in French). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  5. Steuter-Martin, Marilla (22 September 2019). "Tracey Deer captures 'shattered innocence' with film set during Oka Crisis". CBC News. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  6. "Production Underway on BEANS, Directed by Tracey Deer". Canadian Film Centre. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  7. Horn, Greg (19 September 2019). "Deer's "Beans" shows Oka Crisis through the eyes of a 12-year-old". Kahnawake News. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  8. "Beans". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  9. Ahearn, Victoria (December 9, 2020). "Toronto International Film Festival releases Top Ten lists for 2020". Squamish Chief. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  10. Furdyk, Brent (March 30, 2021). "Canadian Screen Awards Announces 2021 Film Nominations". ET Canada.
  11. Malyk, Lauren (28 October 2020). "Michelle Latimer, Vincenzo Natali among DGC film winners". Playback. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  12. "2021 Award Winners". Kingston Canadian Film Festival. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  13. Castillo, Jorge Ignacio (March 12, 2021). "Vancouver Film Critics Name Violation Best Canadian Feature". Vancouver Film Critics Circle.
  14. "2020 Awards and Competitions". Vancouver International Film Festival. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  15. "2021 WGC Screenwriting Awards Winners Announced". Writers Guild of Canada. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  16. Sadaf Ahsan, "Indigenous coming-of-age drama Beans wins $100,000 Toronto film critics prize". The Globe and Mail, March 8, 2022.
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