Bones of Crows

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2:08

Bones of Crows

2022

2h 7m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

95%

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19 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

BONES OF CROWS is told through the eyes of Cree Matriarch Aline Spears as she survives a childhood in Canada's residential school system to continue her family's generational fight in the face of systemic starvation, racism, and sexual abuse. She uses her uncanny ability to understand and translate codes into working for a special division of the Canadian Air Force as a Cree code talker in World War II. The story unfolds over 100 years with a cumulative force that propels us into the future.

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Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

09/11/2022

Spanning generations, Bones of Crows lacks focus and gets frustrating as it has to constantly play the emotional peaks of so many major life moments, ones that will be better spread out over the length of multiple episodes.

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

11/07/2023

If Bones of Crows sometimes seems heavy-handed, a dirge of suffering, you can hardly indict it for being unfaithful to reality. This material is so packed with drama, the 2022 feature has already been spun off into a five-hour broadcast...

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Emma Badame

That Shelf

06/03/2023

A stirring indictment of colonialization and testament to resilience and persistence, the film is made all the more powerful by Grace Dove’s richly layered central performance.

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Anne Brodie

What She Said

06/02/2023

4/4

Bones of Crows Excellent film, restrained, dignifed, instructive, beautiful to look at and bolstered by solid performances and a mature directorial vision Aline is played with tremendous courage by Grace Dove.

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Kim Hughes

Original Cin

06/01/2023

B+

Its subject is urgent and vital, but Bones of Crows is a tough watch, knowing that this poignant drama draws from the real-life experiences of survivors of Canada’s dreaded residential schools.

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Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

06/01/2023

4/5

It is a story of hard truths, told with skill—despite its sprawling nature, it doesn’t feel bloated—and emotion that gets to the heart of how generational trauma forever altered the lives of the characters.

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Jane W

@jwolverton442 Dec 20

This was an amazing depiction of difficult material. It is an important film for Canadians to see to understand better Indigenous history in Canada.

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Taylor D

@Taysalanski Dec 18

This film is a must see! It brings the history that had happened to indigenous people. My Aunt Marie’s work is raw and powerful. It is a tough movie/ show to watch, but it shows the truth on horrible these events occurred.

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catherine p

@Clpierre Dec 18

An important story that portrays the intergenerational impact of colonization and residential school on a family. How complex issues intertwine. An empowering story with authenticity from location, cast and crew.

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Rick J

@Raggz Dec 18

An emotional documentary that is well made. The content highlights important historical events.

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Michelle R

@Meeshell Dec 18

Bones of Crows is a devastating yet necessary film that confronts the horrors of Canada’s residential school system with honesty, restraint and deep compassion. Anchored by powerful performances, especially Grace Dove, the film honors Indigenous resilience while refusing to soften the truth. Painful to watch but impossible to ignore, this is essential viewing.

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Alexi R

@Alexii Dec 17

Even though the story is fictional, the stories of residential school survivors are very much true. I watched it in theaters and I must say I was balling my eyes out and I couldn't stop. Once the movie ended, there was a quiet stillness in the theaters. You can feel what other people were feeling. They were in their chairs, just absorbing what they just watched.

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Marie Clements

Director

Grace Dove

Aline Spears

Phillip Lewitski

Adam Whallach

Rémy Girard

Father Jacob

Karine Vanasse

Sister Ruth

Alyssa Wapanatâhk

Perseverance Spears

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Aberdeen

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Manas

90%

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82%

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Bones of Crows: Trailer 1

2:08

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Synopsis

BONES OF CROWS is told through the eyes of Cree Matriarch Aline Spears as she survives a childhood in Canada's residential school system to continue her family's generational fight in the face of systemic starvation, racism, and sexual abuse. She uses her uncanny ability to understand and translate codes into working for a special division of the Canadian Air Force as a Cree code talker in World War II. The story unfolds over 100 years with a cumulative force that propels us into the future.

Director: Marie Clements
Producer: Marie Clements, Trish Dolman, Christine Haebler
Screenwriter: Marie Clements
Production Co: Grana Productions, Screen Siren Pictures, Marie Clements Media, Ayasew Ooskana Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 2h 7m