Where the Spirit Lives

Where the Spirit Lives

Movie |

Canada | Boarding School

  • :
  • Genre(s): Drama
  • Language(s): English
  • Director(s): Bruce Pittman
  • Cast(s): Michelle St. John, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Sam Malkin, Doris Petrie, Chapelle Jaffe See all Cast & Crew
  • Duration: 1h 36min
  • Music: Buffy Sainte-Marie
  • Award(s): Gemini 1990 (Won)
    Gemini 1990 (Nominated) Awards List
  • Similar To: Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War, Song Sung Blue
  • Story:
    In 1937, a young First Nations (Canadian native) girl named Ashtecome is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a deliberate Canadian policy to force First Nations children to abandon their culture in order to be assimilated into white 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 brutal treatment. Only one sympathetic white teacher who is more and more repelled by this bigotry offers her any help from among the staff. That, with her force of will, Ashtecome (forced to take the name Amelia) is determined to hold on to her identity and that of her siblings, who were also abducted.
    Full Story

Where the Spirit Lives - Where to Stream?

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Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Where The Spirit Lives - Cast

Where The Spirit Lives - Crew

Where the Spirit Lives - IMAGE GALLERY

STORY

Story
In 1937, a young First Nations (Canadian native) girl named Ashtecome is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a deliberate Canadian policy to force First Nations children to abandon their culture in order to be assimilated into white 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 brutal treatment. Only one sympathetic white teacher who is more and more repelled by this bigotry offers her any help from among the staff. That, with her force of will, Ashtecome (forced to take the name Amelia) is determined to hold on to her identity and that of her siblings, who were also abducted.

AWARDS

Won
Gemini Award

Best TV Movie | 1990 | Paul

Lucas Award

Childrens Section | 1990 | Bruce

American Indian Movie Award

Best Director | 1989 | Bruce

Gold Plaque Award

Television Production Feature Film Made for TV Network Special Achievement in Direction | 1989 | Bruce

Nominations
Gemini Award

Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or MiniSeries | 1990 | Bruce

Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or MiniSeries | 1990

TRIVIA AND POPULAR DIALOGUES

Trivia

The film had a special 25th anniversary showing at the 2013 Cinefest in Sudbury Ontario.

Aired on television as part of "American Playhouse" in June of 1990.

Popular Dialogues

"Kathleen: And they've been brutalized! Now just how am I to get the trust and respect of those children when they think I'm about to beat them silly at any moment?"

"Taggert: Poona! Her name is Poona, not Rachel. Call her by her real name for God's sake. Poona! You tell me Reverend, what is it that makes a young girl run across the prarie for three days with no food or water trying to get away from this place? Sure as hell isn't God's work. Whatever it is I've had enough of it! [angered by her death walks away]"