Here are some lovely performances from the younger actors, but for the most part the cast fails to support the weighty material.
Director Campanelli (Momentum) and screenwriter Dennis Foon (Life Above All) are clearly trying to pack as much of Wagamese's book into a feature film as possible. But their approach renders most of the secondary characters one-dimensional, leaving actors like Michael Murphy, Michiel Huisman and Martin Donovan struggling to breathe life into bland expository dialogue.
The three actors who play Saul Indian Horse over some 30 years of his life - Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck and Ajuawak Kapashesit - are uniformly terrific all others should look into a different field of work, and the film does have its moments. But there's no doubt in my mind that the story would be better served at miniseries length.
Director Campanelli (Momentum) and screenwriter Dennis Foon (Life Above All) are clearly trying to pack as much of Wagamese's book into a feature film as possible. But their approach renders most of the secondary characters one-dimensional, leaving actors like Michael Murphy, Michiel Huisman and Martin Donovan struggling to breathe life into bland expository dialogue.
The three actors who play Saul Indian Horse over some 30 years of his life - Sladen Peltier, Forrest Goodluck and Ajuawak Kapashesit - are uniformly terrific all others should look into a different field of work, and the film does have its moments. But there's no doubt in my mind that the story would be better served at miniseries length.