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The Education of Little Tree (1997)

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Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Reviews Counted: 17
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 7

No consensus yet.

Average Rating: 6/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,573

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Movie Info

Richard Friedenberg scripted and made his directorial debut with this adaptation of Forrest Carter's 1992 award-winning coming-of-age novel detailing the Depression-era boyhood of an orphaned Cherokee, eight-year-old Little Tree (Joseph Ashton). Raised and tutored by his grandparents (Tantoo Cardinal, James Cromwell) in the Smokey Mountains of the 1930s, Little Tree encounters difficulties after authorities force him to attend the Notched Gap Indian School. Friedenberg later received an Oscar

PG, 1 hr. 52 min.

Drama, Kids & Family

Directed By: Richard Friedenberg , Richard Friendenberg

Written By: Richard Friedenberg

In Theaters: Jun 1, 1997 Wide

On DVD: Mar 12, 2002

Paramount Home Video

The Education of Little Tree Trailer & Photos

Cast

Critic Reviews for The Education of Little Tree

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (7) | DVD (4)

Earnest but evocative, and in moments touching, chronicle of the turbulent childhood of a Cherokee orphan during the Depression.

June 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Variety

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Top Critic

Builds an honest, natural poignance that would not have been achieved through hollow melodramatics.

March 8, 2009 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

A compelling, mostly positive story, despite Little Tree's bad luck.

May 5, 2006 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope

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Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

Pays homage to the spiritual elders who help us to find our place in the world.

March 1, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

The characters are complex enough to pose important questions, yet the themes are sufficiently straightforward for youngsters to learn and enjoy.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Apollo Guide

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Brian Webster

Apollo Guide

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Education of Little Tree

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The film takes a historical look at what Charaokee Indians had went through during some of there early struggle (through stories) and there continuing struggle well into 1930s (the actual time-frame of the movie). It's an interesting film with some interesting facts and insight into a time for the indian ancestors

October 9, 2008

Bobby Hobbs

Super Reviewer

A GREAT FILM ABOUT A YOUNG BOY WHO LEARNS THAT HE'S PART NATIVE AMERICAN WHEN HE'S ORPHANED AND GOES TO LIVE WITH HIS WHITE GRANDFATHER AND INDIAN GRANDMOTHER. A SAD YET BEAUTIFUL STORY ABOUT THE RACIST WORLD HE FACES IN THE 1930S IN AMERICA. JOSEPH ASHTON DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PORTRAYING LITTLE TREE RODNEY KNOLTON MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE RKNOLTON@GMAIL.COM

June 8, 2008