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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 by	Tracey Deer
Written by	Tracey Deer Meredith Vuchnich
Produced by	Anne-Marie Gélinas
Starring	Kiawentiio Rainbow Dickerson Violah Beauvais
Cinematography	Marie Davignon
Edited by	Sophie Farkas Bolla
Music by	Mario Sévigny
Production company	EMA Films
Distributed by	Mongrel Media
Release date	September 13, 2020 (2020-09-13) (TIFF)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	Canada
Language	English

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] It was nominated for the Prix Iris for Best Screenplay at the 24th Quebec Cinema Awards in 2022.[5]

Plot

Tekehentahkhwa, who goes by the nickname "Beans", is a bright preteen who lives in Kahnawake, a Mohawk reserve. 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 Kahnesatake territory upriver, the entire family drives to the area to support the protestors. The Mohawk land is surrounded by the town of Oka, Quebec, which was seeking to expand its golf course into a historic Mohawk cemetery. 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 Kahnesatake 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 in smoking, cursing, and friendships with boys. April teaches Beans to toughen up, in a hard way.

Cast

• Kiawentiio as Beans/Tekehentahkhwa
• Rainbow Dickerson as Lily
• Violah Beauvais as Ruby
• Paulina Alexis as April
• D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Hank

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.[6] Filming took place in Kahnawake and Montreal in 2019.[7]

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.[8]

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."[9]

The film was named to TIFF's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for feature films.[10]

Accolades

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards	May 20, 2021	Best Picture	Anne-Marie Gélinas	Won	[11]
		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	[12]
Kingston Canadian Film Festival	February 26–March 7, 2021	Limestone Financial People's Choice Award	Tracey Deer	Won	[13]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle	March 8, 2021	Best Supporting Actress in a Canadian Film	Rainbow Dickerson	Won	[14]
		One to Watch	Kiawentiio	Won
Vancouver International Film Festival	September 24–October 7, 2020	Best Canadian Film	Tracey Deer	Won	[15]
Writers Guild of Canada	April 26, 2021	Best Feature Film	Tracey Deer, Meredith Vuchnich	Won	[16]
Toronto Film Critics Association	March 2022	Best Canadian Film	Beans	Won	[17]

References

External links

• Beans at IMDb
• Beans at Rotten Tomatoes
• Beans at Library and Archives Canada

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