Sugarcane Review: A Documentary Unveiling Painful Memories

 Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie's film offers a poignant and harsh exploration of the enduring trauma inflicted by St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School, a government-funded institution run by the Catholic Church. Aimed at severing indigenous children from their cultural roots, the abuses at St. Joseph’s and similar places across North America were numerous, though much evidence is tragically lost to time. The film reveals the lasting legacy of harm as survivors grapple with painful experiences too profound to fully express.

Following individuals connected to St. Joseph’s within the Williams Lake First Nation in British Columbia, the narrative becomes both an artistic reflection on past sins and a study of living with the memory of those sins. It delves into shame, pain, and the resilience required to face such challenges.

At the core is NoiseCat, the writer, and his father Ed Archie NoiseCat, born at the school under uncertain circumstances. Amid the broader exploration of St. Joseph’s, a father-son story unfolds, addressing reconciliation, unfillable voids, and unspeakable realities. A poignant scene with Julian’s grandmother underscores the deep emotional impact.

The known facts about St. Joseph’s are horrifying, including accounts of rape, torture, and deaths. Radar has revealed unmarked graves on the school site, highlighting the gravity of the atrocities. The film introduces community responses, from activists like Charlene Belleau uncovering secrets to figures like former Chief Rick Gilbert, still grappling with faith and identity.

Cinematography by Kassie and Christopher LaMarca captures the landscape and community vibrancy amid the St. Joseph’s aftermath. Limited archival footage is juxtaposed with a 1962 documentary, emphasizing the stark contrast between sanitized depictions and the vivid culture targeted for erasure.

'Sugarcane' may not offer neat resolutions, reflecting the complex history it explores. With many victims and perpetrators deceased and memories suppressed, the film resists imposing conclusions that don't naturally arise. Instead, it allows the lingering gaps in the narrative to convey the haunting presence of past injustices. Ultimately, 'Sugarcane' transcends a mere history lesson, presenting a powerful portrait of what endures in the wake of profound injustice.

Julian Brave

St. Joseph’s