The Education of Little Tree (1997)

Little Tree is an 8-year-old Cherokee boy, who, during the time of the depression, loses his parents and starts to live with his Indian grandma and grandpa and learn the wisdom of the ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Friedenberg

Writers:

Forrest Carter (novel), Earl Hamner Jr. (teleplay),

Stars:

James Cromwell, Tantoo Cardinal, Joseph Ashton

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Cromwell	...	Granpa
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Granma
Joseph Ashton	...	Little Tree / Joshua
Mika Boorem	...	Little Girl
Christopher Heyerdahl	...	Pine Billy
Christopher Fennell	...	Wilburn (as Chris Fennell)
Graham Greene	...	Willow John
Leni Parker	...	Martha
Rebecca Dewey	...	Dolly
Bill Rowat	...	Henry
Robert Daviau	...	Ralph
Norris Domingue	...	Mr. Jenkins
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Preacher
Gordon Masten	...	Politician
Howard Rosenstein	...	Calf's Owner

Storyline

Little Tree is an 8-year-old Cherokee boy, who, during the time of the depression, loses his parents and starts to live with his Indian grandma and grandpa and learn the wisdom of the Cherokee way of life.

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Plot Keywords:

cherokee | grandparent | against the system | 1930s | coming of age | 

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Taglines:

A boy of two worlds must learn to be his own man.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language and thematic elements including old fashioned discipline

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

L'éducation de Little Tree

Filming Locations:

Blue Ridge Mountains, Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$119,254 (USA) (23 January 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Allied Films, Lightmotive

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The book on which this movie was based was originally published in 1977 under the title and subtitle "The Education of Little Tree: A True Story," with the author's name given as "Forrest Carter." However, after the publication, it was revealed that the book was not really a true story, and "Forrest Carter" was actually a pseudonym for Asa Earl Carter. Asa Carter was a Ku Klux Klansman and the alleged author of George Wallace's 1963 "segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" speech.

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Goofs

The rattlesnake that confronts Little Tree disappears in a wide-shot, but is there in the close-ups.

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Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #21.7 (1999)

User Reviews

A great movie that will make you think

I first saw this movie when it was on cable while i was doing something else, but i was soon riveted to the screen. And have since watched it twice more. Don't know about the book but this is a powerful film, although i am not quite sure why. Maybe because it tells the story from such a different perspective than most of us tend to look at things. This movie has no big stars or recognizable (to me) faces but many memorable scenes, especially the one with the little boy and girl. Definitely worth watching.