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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 ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Tale Of Lost Opportunity
Like another movie I recently watched and commented upon, "The Education Of Little Tree", is not a five star film, but it becomes one when its message is included. James Cromwell, Tantoo Cardinal, Joseph Ashton, Mika Boorem, and Graham Greene all give wonderful performances. Joseph and Mika are both young children, so their performances are all the more worthy of praise.

The Native Americans that are included in this film are The Cherokee People, and their story, including, "The Trail Of Tears", play a prominent role. Like other Native Americans, The Cherokee lived without destroying the land and the wildlife they coexisted with. They only used what they needed, greed did not drive them to exploit nature and destroy her, as we and our ancestors have, and continue to do.

The movie is beautifully filmed in the mountains of Tennessee, and the director took the time to capture the natural beauty that European settlers were to exploit and ruin. It's true some of this beauty still exists, but is largely because it has become national parkland, rather than having been left unmolested out of respect for its intrinsic value. Poignant moments are frequent in this film, and one is certainly when a young boy who is half Cherokee is sent off to a Dickensian nightmare of a school to be abused because of his, "Indian Blood". Upon his arrival he is stripped of his Native American name and given an, "American replacement", Joshua. It appears that biblical names were originally written for re-naming true Americans.

Graham Greene is a familiar face to many moviegoers and he is a pleasure to watch in this film. Tantoo Cardinal who plays the role of the young boy's Cherokee grandmother is also wonderful.

The movie does not resolve its tale on a completely happy note, nor one of complete despair. As it has in real life, time has shown all that was lost when Genocide was carried out against Native Americans as federal government policy. Had good judgment, and lack of stupefying greed worked to integrate the newcomers to this country with the natives that were here, I have little doubt our country would be better for it, and the facts of the country's history would not include the genocide of those people we deemed to be in our way.

Inspiring
I fell in love with the Smokies as a child when we'd go to Virginia every summer to visit my dad's family. I've been back to Tennessee numerous times as an adult and never tire of the beautiful scenery. The movie dealt with things dearest to my heart: The Smokies, the old ways, spirituality. I'm inspired by it, and as someone else said, I've watched the movie twice since I rented it and plan to watch it with another loved one tomorrow. It's the kind of movie you want to share with the people closest to you because, like Little Tree's grandma said in the movie, when you come on something good in life you gotta share it with someone else so the good can just keep on going.

Charming and Simple
I loved the mountains in this movie. I don't know if it was filmed in the Appalacian mountains or somewhere else, but I want to go there. To have a grandma and grandpa so loving and spiritual would be such joy for any child. Little Tree has Indian blood in him from his grandma and White blood from his grandpa. His parents die and he lives with them in the mountains. They educate him with love and wisdom. The simplicity of truth. I felt awestruck by such simple honesty and the beauty of nature. It seems Little Tree kept his grandparents with him throughout his life, holding him in his spirit as they held him within theirs. Looking at the Dog Star and knowing, really knowing that he could be heard. What a feeling of saftey. This movie weaves that safe warmth as you view it.

Lisa Nary

Insight of orphaned natives
I loved this movie because my Hopi grandfather had a similar story but had nobody to raise him, and in desperation he asked an immigrant farmer in Phoenix to raise him. He ran away from the indian boarding school or orphanage because of the abuse. This movie is so moving and beautiful that it is a must have if you have can or cannot relate.

A Movie With Heart
As a Native American I am well aware of all the blatant stereotyping out there. What I like about this movie is the underlayment of good values. Yes, there is the moonshining, and it was illegal and booze has definitely had a detrimental effect on all races of people. However, this just showed that people during those times were really scrapping to keep their lives going. The Grandparents were not sitting around drinking. As with Casinos, they were selling their product to Dominant culture people. No, I am not a drinker and I teach abstinance.A perfect moment if parents are watching with their kids(as they should), to field children's thoughts about it. Do some teaching.
I wonder how many people know that during the Depression when other races of people were just hungry and homeless, Indian peoples across America- some people literally starved to death. On the bottom economically. Only 75 years ago! In our country?

The connection of the people to the land and nature was very evident, but, understated, and they were not stereotyped as turning into mystical beings, but, rather, being one with the beauty around them- poor but rooted there. My humble Grandparents also took me to rock ledges and the woods to pray. Showed reverence for all living things.

Someone has mentioned that characters were stereotyped as typical of mountain people. I would like to say that one of the reasons I like this movie is that I was very moved by the way a filmmaker set down scenes and family interractions that I experienced. There are people still alive who I have known well, who are good nurturing souls like the Grandparents and John Willow. Even now, in Hollers and on country cowpaths, there are folks like these, believe me. So much hurt and antifamily abuse came out of so many Indians going off to Indian boarding schools. But, here and there, and where I am from, there are pockets of country Indians, registered tribal people, living in harmony. Holding us together.

Could have been my grandma's cabin,inside and out, or my adopted Dad and Mom. There was much good said in this movie, and implied, about traditional values of kindness and caring. About family, friends, and how if an Indian child does not have relatives, they are given relatives and taken care of. The Ongoing, the future of the community. Closeness to the land.

I marvel that the author of the book from which this movie is loosely adapted, had dubious racial ties. I do not support the KKK in anyway, but, the movie reflects the moviemakers,not the book author, and I do not believe that people like American Indian stars Tantoo Cardinal and Graham Greene would have supported a movie that they did not find worthy. Blessings and Balance. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Better than average telefilm on interracial marriage
One of the better TV movies, Mr. & Mrs. Loving focuses on the real-life story of a white man and an African-American/Native American woman who marry in DC but live in Virginia. Virginia prosecutes them for violating its anti-miscegenation statutes, and the case eventually makes its way to the Supreme Court.

To answer the reader below, Mr. Loving died in car accident in 1975, but the Lovings had 3 children prior to his death.

Where are the "real" Mr. and Mrs. Loving?
I have seen this movie. I thought it was wonderful!!! Thumbs up to the actors Lela Rochon and Timothy Hutton for bringing such an emotional story so realistically to life. I cried during several scenes when I first saw the movie. I don't think the chemistry would have been the same with any other actors. What I have wondered about since seeing this movie, is where are the "real" Mr. and Mrs. Loving today? Are they still together? If so, do they still live in VA? Where are their children? Does anyone know? I think they should do a documentary on the "real" Mr. and Mrs. Loving.

A great movie about love
Mr. and Mrs. Loving is a movie about the love shared between a white man and a black woman. They fall in love and marry. They are arrested on their wedding night and forced to leave their home. After building a life in Washington, D.C. they decide that they want to go home. After being driven away once again they decide to fight for what they believe is right. A court ruling allows them to finally return to their home and their families. The great love shared between Richard and Mildred (Bean) is the kind of love that love stories are made of. This is a great movie and I highly recommend it.

WONDERFUL, A MUST SEE !
Having read recent newspaper accounts of the repeal of the remaining anti-miscegeneration laws in various states. I wanted to see more about the case which began it all. The State of Virginia V Loving. With a name like that the State of Virginia did not really stand a chance. But it would take another six years after Richard and Mildred Loving married before the United States Supreme Court overuled the State of Virginia's viciously racist findings to allow the Lovings to finally cohabit and return to their waiting relatives in Virginia.

This wonderful film is about a genuine love story in which the Lovings a interracial couple from Virginia marry in segregation era America and feel the full impact of the old slavery laws come hurtling down on them. On their wedding night the Lovings are dragged from their beds and thrown unceremoniously into jail. Richard Loving is freed a day later because he is white but his wife has to languish in jail for another seven days before she is informed of what "crime" she has committed.

The Lovings are invited by the judge to accept jail or be banished from the state for 25 years. After choosing the latter the Lovings find it impossible to shake off the homesickeness for old friends and family and decide to secretly return home. The remainder of the film is dedicated to their participation in the Civil Rights movements, the birth of their children and the legal battle which ensues with the State of Virginia. The Lovings legal representation was rpovided free by the American Civil Liberties union after Milded Loving wrote to President John F Kennedy. This scene is particularly moving.

The leads are played by the beautifully sensual Lela Rochan ( Waiting to Exhale 1995) and the gorgeous Timothy Hutton (The General's Daughter (1999) This stunningly sexy couple who are instantly likeable and engaging , really bring the Lovings story to life. However this is a Hallmark film on a smallish budget so no one should expect riveting car cashes or lenghty court room speaches. The focus is always on the emotional chemistry between the couple and how their right to live without being harrassed by the state of Virginia or separated from their extended family is a matter of personal dignity and essential to the integrity of American society. Watch out for some original archival footage from Martin Luther Kings legendary "I have a Dream" speech.

BLACK FEMALE WITH WHITE MALE!
I "LOVE" TO SEE BLACK FEMALES WITH MALES THAT ARE NOT BLACK! AWWW A BLACK WOMAN WITH A MAN WHO IS NOT BLACK! HOW CUTE! I "LOVE" THIS MOVIE, THIS IS MY FAV MOVIE! I want to buy this movie from here, but everytime i try to buy it from here it brings me to the OTHER Mr and Mrs Loving! SO I CAN'T BUY THE 1996 ONE, THAT I REALLY WANT! i dont wanna buy the older version, i want to buy the 1996 version. by the way.... LELA ROCHON IS FIONE! LELA ROCHON IS THE SECOND MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE WORLD, RIGHT BELOW TATYANA ALI AND RIGHT ABOVE ROBIN GIVENS! ... Read more

Description

Eleven-year-old Michael Devlin is on an astonishing adventure into a magical world where he will learn about the power of belief, to right wrongs, and build unlikely friendships. ... Read more

Description

Henry, a doctor from Cracov, Ludwig, a popular lawyer from Lodz and Jarek. They have money, social position ... but also serious troubles. The three men think up the perfect crime. Is it possible?English subtitles.

Cast/Obsada: Marian Kociniak, Jan Peszek, Leonard Pietraszak.

1989, color. 99 mins. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Tale Of Lost Opportunity
Like another movie I recently watched and commented upon, "The Education Of Little Tree", is not a five star film, but it becomes one when its message is included. James Cromwell, Tantoo Cardinal, Joseph Ashton, Mika Boorem, and Graham Greene all give wonderful performances. Joseph and Mika are both young children, so their performances are all the more worthy of praise.

The Native Americans that are included in this film are The Cherokee People, and their story, including, "The Trail Of Tears", play a prominent role. Like other Native Americans, The Cherokee lived without destroying the land and the wildlife they coexisted with. They only used what they needed, greed did not drive them to exploit nature and destroy her, as we and our ancestors have, and continue to do.

The movie is beautifully filmed in the mountains of Tennessee, and the director took the time to capture the natural beauty that European settlers were to exploit and ruin. It's true some of this beauty still exists, but is largely because it has become national parkland, rather than having been left unmolested out of respect for its intrinsic value. Poignant moments are frequent in this film, and one is certainly when a young boy who is half Cherokee is sent off to a Dickensian nightmare of a school to be abused because of his, "Indian Blood". Upon his arrival he is stripped of his Native American name and given an, "American replacement", Joshua. It appears that biblical names were originally written for re-naming true Americans.

Graham Greene is a familiar face to many moviegoers and he is a pleasure to watch in this film. Tantoo Cardinal who plays the role of the young boy's Cherokee grandmother is also wonderful.

The movie does not resolve its tale on a completely happy note, nor one of complete despair. As it has in real life, time has shown all that was lost when Genocide was carried out against Native Americans as federal government policy. Had good judgment, and lack of stupefying greed worked to integrate the newcomers to this country with the natives that were here, I have little doubt our country would be better for it, and the facts of the country's history would not include the genocide of those people we deemed to be in our way.

Inspiring
I fell in love with the Smokies as a child when we'd go to Virginia every summer to visit my dad's family. I've been back to Tennessee numerous times as an adult and never tire of the beautiful scenery. The movie dealt with things dearest to my heart: The Smokies, the old ways, spirituality. I'm inspired by it, and as someone else said, I've watched the movie twice since I rented it and plan to watch it with another loved one tomorrow. It's the kind of movie you want to share with the people closest to you because, like Little Tree's grandma said in the movie, when you come on something good in life you gotta share it with someone else so the good can just keep on going.

Charming and Simple
I loved the mountains in this movie. I don't know if it was filmed in the Appalacian mountains or somewhere else, but I want to go there. To have a grandma and grandpa so loving and spiritual would be such joy for any child. Little Tree has Indian blood in him from his grandma and White blood from his grandpa. His parents die and he lives with them in the mountains. They educate him with love and wisdom. The simplicity of truth. I felt awestruck by such simple honesty and the beauty of nature. It seems Little Tree kept his grandparents with him throughout his life, holding him in his spirit as they held him within theirs. Looking at the Dog Star and knowing, really knowing that he could be heard. What a feeling of saftey. This movie weaves that safe warmth as you view it.

Lisa Nary

Insight of orphaned natives
I loved this movie because my Hopi grandfather had a similar story but had nobody to raise him, and in desperation he asked an immigrant farmer in Phoenix to raise him. He ran away from the indian boarding school or orphanage because of the abuse. This movie is so moving and beautiful that it is a must have if you have can or cannot relate.

A Movie With Heart
As a Native American I am well aware of all the blatant stereotyping out there. What I like about this movie is the underlayment of good values. Yes, there is the moonshining, and it was illegal and booze has definitely had a detrimental effect on all races of people. However, this just showed that people during those times were really scrapping to keep their lives going. The Grandparents were not sitting around drinking. As with Casinos, they were selling their product to Dominant culture people. No, I am not a drinker and I teach abstinance.A perfect moment if parents are watching with their kids(as they should), to field children's thoughts about it. Do some teaching.
I wonder how many people know that during the Depression when other races of people were just hungry and homeless, Indian peoples across America- some people literally starved to death. On the bottom economically. Only 75 years ago! In our country?

The connection of the people to the land and nature was very evident, but, understated, and they were not stereotyped as turning into mystical beings, but, rather, being one with the beauty around them- poor but rooted there. My humble Grandparents also took me to rock ledges and the woods to pray. Showed reverence for all living things.

Someone has mentioned that characters were stereotyped as typical of mountain people. I would like to say that one of the reasons I like this movie is that I was very moved by the way a filmmaker set down scenes and family interractions that I experienced. There are people still alive who I have known well, who are good nurturing souls like the Grandparents and John Willow. Even now, in Hollers and on country cowpaths, there are folks like these, believe me. So much hurt and antifamily abuse came out of so many Indians going off to Indian boarding schools. But, here and there, and where I am from, there are pockets of country Indians, registered tribal people, living in harmony. Holding us together.

Could have been my grandma's cabin,inside and out, or my adopted Dad and Mom. There was much good said in this movie, and implied, about traditional values of kindness and caring. About family, friends, and how if an Indian child does not have relatives, they are given relatives and taken care of. The Ongoing, the future of the community. Closeness to the land.

I marvel that the author of the book from which this movie is loosely adapted, had dubious racial ties. I do not support the KKK in anyway, but, the movie reflects the moviemakers,not the book author, and I do not believe that people like American Indian stars Tantoo Cardinal and Graham Greene would have supported a movie that they did not find worthy. Blessings and Balance. ... Read more