"Keeping the Promise" is a wonderful story of historical fiction set in the early pioneer years of America. The script, cinematography and technical values of the film are very good. But the direction and acting set this movie well above the pack of similar children's stories. It's really a children's story fit for the whole family (i.e., adults included).
All the cast are quite good. Keith Carrodine as Will Hallowel, Gordon Tootoosis as Sakniss and William Lightning as Attean are very good. But three of the cast give exceptional performances. They are Annette O'Toole as Anne Hallowell, Brendan Fletcher as Matt, and Maury Chaykin as hunter Ben Loomis.
This movie is an adaptation of the 1983 children's novel, "The Sign of the Beaver," by Elizabeth Speare. That's the title on the DVD I bought. The book has won a number of awards. At least one review laments the film's deviation from the book. It must be considerable, because the film credits don't even mention the book. Adaptations usually are major revisions or changes in direction.
I haven't read the book, but think this movie stands very well by itself. It's a nice story of a family enduring hardships in the early days of America. It's a wonderful film about loss and love, despair and hope, honor and trust. It's about survival, learning, growing and friendship. And, it's about the early displacement of native Americans as our European forefathers settled America. This is a very good film for the whole family.
All the cast are quite good. Keith Carrodine as Will Hallowel, Gordon Tootoosis as Sakniss and William Lightning as Attean are very good. But three of the cast give exceptional performances. They are Annette O'Toole as Anne Hallowell, Brendan Fletcher as Matt, and Maury Chaykin as hunter Ben Loomis.
This movie is an adaptation of the 1983 children's novel, "The Sign of the Beaver," by Elizabeth Speare. That's the title on the DVD I bought. The book has won a number of awards. At least one review laments the film's deviation from the book. It must be considerable, because the film credits don't even mention the book. Adaptations usually are major revisions or changes in direction.
I haven't read the book, but think this movie stands very well by itself. It's a nice story of a family enduring hardships in the early days of America. It's a wonderful film about loss and love, despair and hope, honor and trust. It's about survival, learning, growing and friendship. And, it's about the early displacement of native Americans as our European forefathers settled America. This is a very good film for the whole family.