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IMDbPro

Where the Spirit Lives

  • 19891989
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
271
YOUR RATING
Where the Spirit Lives (1989)
  • Drama
A young Native Canadian (First Nations person) fights to keep her culture and identity when she is abducted to a residential school.A young Native Canadian (First Nations person) fights to keep her culture and identity when she is abducted to a residential school.A young Native Canadian (First Nations person) fights to keep her culture and identity when she is abducted to a residential school.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
271
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bruce Pittman
  • Writer
    • Keith Ross Leckie(original screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Michelle St. John
    • Kim Bruisedhead Fox
    • Marianne Jones
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bruce Pittman
  • Writer
    • Keith Ross Leckie(original screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Michelle St. John
    • Kim Bruisedhead Fox
    • Marianne Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 wins & 2 nominations

    Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Michelle St. John
    Michelle St. John
    • Komias Komi…
    Kim Bruisedhead Fox
    • Anatakias Anataki
    Marianne Jones
    • Komi's Motheras Komi's Mother
    Gus Chief Moon
    • Ka-moos-eeas Ka-moos-ee
    Clayton Julian
    • Pitaas Pita…
    Margaret Cozry
    • Grandmotheras Grandmother
    • (as Margaret R. Cozry)
    Marge Fox
    • Anataki's Motheras Anataki's Mother
    Ron White
    Ron White
    • Taggertas Taggert
    Ann-Marie MacDonald
    • Kathleenas Kathleen
    Sean Mulcahy
    • Priestas Priest
    Sam Malkin
    • Mr. Crawfordas Mr. Crawford
    Doris Petrie
    • Miss Weiras Miss Weir
    Chapelle Jaffe
    Chapelle Jaffe
    • Miss Applebyas Miss Appleby
    Tina Louise Bomberry
    • Assistant Supervisor #2as Assistant Supervisor #2
    • (as Tina Bomberry)
    Barbara Wheeldon
    Barbara Wheeldon
    • Matronas Matron
    David Hemblen
    David Hemblen
    • Reverend Buckleyas Reverend Buckley
    John Friesen
    • Mr. Babcockas Mr. Babcock
    Heather Hess
    • Rachelas Rachel
    • Director
      • Bruce Pittman
    • Writer
      • Keith Ross Leckie(original screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film had a special 25th anniversary showing at the 2013 Cinefest in Sudbury Ontario.
    • Quotes

      Kathleen: And they've been brutalized! Now just how am I to get the trust and respect of those children when they think I'm about to beat them silly at any moment?

    User reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Almost Accurate
    I have seen this movie many times. It never gets easier to watch. Historically the attitude towards educating the "heathens" is very close to policy (read Maureen Lux "Medicine that Walks"). As for the portrayal of the students, the abuse was pretty tame. If they actually showed what happened at the worst schools it never would have made it to production and could be classified as a snuff film. I've met people who've been in residential schools and are now in their late 70s and early 80s, one old lady never hugged her children for fear she'd be passing on sexual abuse. For the amount of awful events there were still some teachers that tried to make a positive impact on the lives of their students like we see in the film. Overall I'd recommend it for people as a starting point for research in the area. In one of the previous comments I read about "looking for a handle to get out of a plane", however if you don't know what a plane is and have never been in one that would be irrelevant. Michelle St. John is a good actress. She was also good in "conspiracy of silence" which I also recommend.
    helpful•5
    0
    • spiritualvista
    • Aug 11, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 6, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wo ich zuhause bin
    • Filming locations
      • Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Amazing Spirit Productions Ltd.
      • Atlantis Films
      • Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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