Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (1993) YTS

Reviewed by R T 7 / 10

An amazing, challenging sometimes shocking documentary about an

An amazing, challenging sometimes shocking documentary about an important chapter in history.

Reviewed by R T 8 / 10

Highly influential (and controversial) film about the 1990

Highly influential (and controversial) film about the 1990 Oka crisis, which Alanis Obomsawin shot from within the barricades, living with the warriors and their families. When the city of Oka, Quebec approved plans for their territory to be used to create upper-class housing and to expand a golf course, the Mohawks living on the reserved land armed themselves and stayed put. Standing off first against Quebec police (who suffered a casaulty when shots were fired), and then against the Canadian Army, we see their mounting anger as we learn how the Mohawks of Kanehsatake have been displaced and stolen from by governments and religious leaders for 270 years. Supporters come from all over North American Native communities to speak out for them, and neighbouring reserves stage protests, as do many whites in Oka and other towns. But politicians stall negotiations, break promises, and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney even calls them criminals (though what laws they are supposedly breaking no-one seems able to answer). After 78 days, the Mohawks -- including women and children -- finally emerge unarmed from behind the barricades and are all brutally attacked by the armed soldiers. It is shocking to see how our government allowed such flagrant absues of the rights of Natives even in the 1990s, and how long the standoff was alllowed to continue over something as insignificant as building a golf course. One thing I like about the film is that both sides of the barricades are humanized -- we can see that the soldiers have a grudging respect for the warriors in the way that they talk to them from across the razor wire, and we can see in many soldiers' eyes that they are sympathetic. This underscores the position that this armed standoff was ultimately allowed to be needlessly drawn out by governments, at all levels, to assert white dominance over native property. Obomsawain has said that she was actually glad that the Army was called in; had the Quebec police remained to deal with the crisis, there surely would have been a bloodbath. The CBC refused to air the film unless it was cut shorter, so it showed first on British television. Embarrassed, the CBC finally agreed to air it uncut but tried to force Obomsawin to appear on a panel afterwards to "defend" her film (she refused). Shameful.

Reviewed by R T 6 / 10

It's infuriating seeing what was done in Canada

It's infuriating seeing what was done in Canada. The subject matter really is important to know and to see the side represented in the film.

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

1993

Action / Documentary

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance

1993

Action / Documentary

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Movie Reviews

An amazing, challenging sometimes shocking documentary about an

Highly influential (and controversial) film about the 1990

It's infuriating seeing what was done in Canada

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