Where to Watch
Checking availability in your country…
Cast
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1990
Runtime1h 36m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationPG
GenresDrama
Votes5
DirectorBruce Pittman
WritersKeith Ross Leckie
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.2 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsWhere the Spirit Lives
About Where the Spirit Lives
In 1937, a young First Nations girl named Ashtecome is kidnapped along with several other children from a village as part of a deliberate Canadian policy to force First Nations children to abandon their culture in order to be assimilated into white Canadian/British society. Taken to a boarding school where she's forced to adopt Western Euro-centric ways and learn English, often under brutal treatment, she has the support of one sympathetic white teacher.
Directed by Bruce Pittman, Where the Spirit Lives leans on a strong ensemble — Michelle St. John, Kim Bruisedhead Fox, Marianne Jones — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1990.
Read More on the BlogYou Might Also Like
More like Where the Spirit Lives, picked from what people are watching
6.9Indian Horse
2018 6.9
Follows the life of Native Canadian Saul Indian Horse as he survives residential school and life amongst the racism of the 1970s. A talented hockey player, Saul must find his own path as he battles stereotypes and alcoholism.
Indian Horse
2018
7.6A Little Princess
1995 7.6
When her father enlists to fight for the British in WWI, young Sara Crewe goes to New York to attend the same boarding school her late mother attended. She soon clashes with the severe headmistress, Miss Minchin, who attempts to stifle Sara's creativity and sense of self-worth.
A Little Princess
1995
7.2Riceboy Sleeps
2023 7.2
In the 1990s, an immigrant single mother raises her teenage son in the Canadian suburbs, determined to provide a better life for him than the one she left behind in South Korea.
Riceboy Sleeps
2023
6.4Rez Ball
2024 6.4
After losing their star player, a high school basketball team rooted in Native American culture must unite to keep their state championship dreams alive.
Rez Ball
2024
6.5The Dead Don't Hurt
2024 6.5
In the 1860s, fiercely independent French-Canadian Vivienne Le Coudy embarks on a journey with Danish immigrant Holger Olsen, attempting to forge a life together in the dusty town of Elk Flats, Nevada. When Holger decides to go fight for the Union in the burgeoning Civil War, Vivienne must fend for herself, which isn't easy in a town controlled by a corrupt mayor.
The Dead Don't Hurt
2024
7.5The Book Thief
2013 7.5
While subjected to the horrors of WWII Germany, young Liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others. Under the stairs in her home, a Jewish refugee is being sheltered by her adoptive parents.
The Book Thief
2013
User Reviews
6.2
Community rating
Loading reviews…
From the Blog
All Posts
News
Spider-Man Brand New Day OTT Release Date: When and Where It Will Stream
Tom Holland’s biggest Spider-Man film yet is smashing records in theatres, and everyone is asking the same question: when does it hit OTT? Here is the latest, updated as it is confirmed.
News
Michael OTT Release Date: The Michael Jackson Biopic Streams August 29
The Michael Jackson biopic arrives on JioHotstar on August 29, 2026. Here is where to watch it, what you need, and why it is one of the year’s biggest music films.
News
Jana Nayagan OTT Release Date: When Vijay’s Film Streams on ZEE5
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan is headed to ZEE5 for its digital premiere. Here is the latest on its OTT release date and where to watch, updated as news is confirmed.