Indian Horse

 

Indian Horse is a Canadian drama adapted from the fictional novel of the same name by Richard Wagamese. The story spans over three decades, from the 1950s until the 1970s, in Ontario Canada. It follows an Ojibwe boy, Saul Indian Horse, as he is torn from his family and forced into a residential school, where he is stripped of his culture and language. The only respite from the trauma he must endure is hockey. Will Saul be able to face his pain and forge his own path to the NHL or will he fall into a pattern of self-destruction?

Although the film is fictional, the subject matter regarding the abuses experienced by children at residential schools and the ongoing racism that those from the Indigenous community experienced as adults were all factual.

You could tell the budget for this film wasn’t much but the cinematographer did well with what was given. Some of the topics were hard to watch but were filmed in a way that was tasteful. You could see how distressing living in the residential schools could be and you could really empathize for those children.

The script moved well and kept me engaged throughout. Sometimes the writing was a bit corny but overall it was clear in its themes around family, culture, and mental health.

The acting from all of the people who played Saul, Sladen Peltier as a child, Forrest Goodluck as a teenager, and Ajuawak Kapashesit in his later years, was impressive. They were each able to showcase a good amount of range to really make you become invested in this character.

Overall, this was a well-made, educational film. For those unfamiliar with residential schools in Canada, I’d definitely recommend checking out this movie.