The text behind this film has a title the directly translated would be something like "With the best of intentions".
And the whole point of the original text was to on one side describe what went on back then, but not the least to point out that what we today see as horrible imperialistic thing done to the native people, was seen in an entirely different light when it happened. Back then people really believed that these poor kids would be better of if they were being 'enlightened' by being given a 'Modern Western' upbringing, as the natives were seen as being 'backwards'.
Basically a story we find al over the world from Australia in the south over the Indians in the Americas to Greenland in the north. (and certainly not limited to these three)
So the story is an example of "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".
But this film TOTALLY misses this crucial point, and simply depicts the whole story from a modern point of view, just condemning all they did. And of course it is good that this sad sad story is told, for those that have not heard it, so we in the west (hopefully?) can learn from our faults.
But to me it is MUCH worse that we did these horrible things, and thought they were good!
This leads to the much deeper perspective, that what we today do, and think as good, might in fifty years be seen as absolutely appalling!
And this film COMPLETELY misses the chance to teach us this crucial lesson from the original text.
The film as such, have good acting by the kids, but the main character's role are so horrible one dimensional that I do not think we can blame the actress - it is the director that 'simply' missed the central axis of the story. BUT if you can ignore this blunder - or see through it, the film is tolerable.
(I marked this review as containing spoilers, it can be debated if that makes sense for a docudrama...)
And the whole point of the original text was to on one side describe what went on back then, but not the least to point out that what we today see as horrible imperialistic thing done to the native people, was seen in an entirely different light when it happened. Back then people really believed that these poor kids would be better of if they were being 'enlightened' by being given a 'Modern Western' upbringing, as the natives were seen as being 'backwards'.
Basically a story we find al over the world from Australia in the south over the Indians in the Americas to Greenland in the north. (and certainly not limited to these three)
So the story is an example of "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".
But this film TOTALLY misses this crucial point, and simply depicts the whole story from a modern point of view, just condemning all they did. And of course it is good that this sad sad story is told, for those that have not heard it, so we in the west (hopefully?) can learn from our faults.
But to me it is MUCH worse that we did these horrible things, and thought they were good!
This leads to the much deeper perspective, that what we today do, and think as good, might in fifty years be seen as absolutely appalling!
And this film COMPLETELY misses the chance to teach us this crucial lesson from the original text.
The film as such, have good acting by the kids, but the main character's role are so horrible one dimensional that I do not think we can blame the actress - it is the director that 'simply' missed the central axis of the story. BUT if you can ignore this blunder - or see through it, the film is tolerable.
(I marked this review as containing spoilers, it can be debated if that makes sense for a docudrama...)
