A coming of age story set in a First Nations community that features the weariness and dissatisfaction of life on a reserve. The story centers on Shane, a "good" boy who is academically superior to his peers. He wants to get out and move to Toronto to attend university, but he faces several challenges: his girlfriend, his boyfriend, his mother, the memories of his sister, lack of money.
Shane's girlfriend, Tara, is needy and alcoholic. His boyfriend, David, is a proud Native, who wants to stay to effect positive changes in the community. His mother is catatonic following the suicide of her daughter, Shane's sister. David's grandmother, with whom he lives, does not believe that the Creator intended for men to be with men.
Tara happens upon Shane and David kissing one night. She confronts them then runs away. As she is walking, she meets Kyle, who is the boyfriend of her best friend. They drink and end up in an empty building and Kyle rapes Tara. She hangs herself and Kyle returns to his aunt's house and his girlfriend.
Kyle's aunt is the community's drug dealer. Desperate to make money, Shane agrees to sell for her, but nobody will buy from him. He and David return the unsold drugs and attempt to rob her, but she fires a gun and the police arrive to arrest her and Kyle.
David's grandmother visits Shane's mom, they discuss the situation with Shane and David, who are asleep in the next room, and decide to help Shane get to Toronto.
It is a fairly predictable arc and ending, but 8/10 for portraying the gut-wrenching desperation of what life must be like in a depressed community with no jobs and no hope for betterment.
Shane's girlfriend, Tara, is needy and alcoholic. His boyfriend, David, is a proud Native, who wants to stay to effect positive changes in the community. His mother is catatonic following the suicide of her daughter, Shane's sister. David's grandmother, with whom he lives, does not believe that the Creator intended for men to be with men.
Tara happens upon Shane and David kissing one night. She confronts them then runs away. As she is walking, she meets Kyle, who is the boyfriend of her best friend. They drink and end up in an empty building and Kyle rapes Tara. She hangs herself and Kyle returns to his aunt's house and his girlfriend.
Kyle's aunt is the community's drug dealer. Desperate to make money, Shane agrees to sell for her, but nobody will buy from him. He and David return the unsold drugs and attempt to rob her, but she fires a gun and the police arrive to arrest her and Kyle.
David's grandmother visits Shane's mom, they discuss the situation with Shane and David, who are asleep in the next room, and decide to help Shane get to Toronto.
It is a fairly predictable arc and ending, but 8/10 for portraying the gut-wrenching desperation of what life must be like in a depressed community with no jobs and no hope for betterment.