TV & Movies

Beans Brings an Essential Indigenous Perspective to the Big Screen

See why director Tracey Deer’s first film rightfully won Best Picture at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards.

By: Michael Hollett

Kiawentiio and Violah Beauvais in a scene from the film Beans.

Violah Beauvais (left) and Kiawentiio (right) in the film Beans.

Where/When: In theatres (Weds., Thurs.) Calgary (Eau Claire), Vancouver (International Village, Langley), Toronto (Varsity); (Starting Fri.) Vancouver (International Village), Toronto (Canada Square)

What: Film, 92 mins

Genre: Historical drama

Why you should watch: A searingly relevant coming-of-age movie set in—another—shameful moment in Canadian history, as an adolescent Mohawk girl grows up in ’90s Quebec against the backdrop of the Oka Standoff between Indigenous land defenders, racist whites and government goons. Beans was the deserving best picture winner at the 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, with best first feature honours going to director Tracey Deer.