Watch The Sign of the Beaver

In The Sign of the Beaver, a family from Massachusetts moves to Maine in the late 1700s to start a new life in the wilderness. Father (Keith Carradine), Mother (Annette O'Toole), and son Matt (Brendan Fletcher) set up camp and begin building a cabin. Father leaves to fetch the rest of the family and supplies, leaving Matt behind to keep the camp and the unfinished cabin.

Matt struggles to adapt to life in the wilderness, and after losing his supplies to a thief, he is rescued by Attean (Gordon Tootoosis), a young Native American boy who teaches Matt how to survive in the forest. Attean introduces Matt to his family and tribe, teaching him their ways and customs. Matt learns the importance of respecting the natural world, living in harmony with it, and the value of family and friendship.

As Attean becomes Matt's friend, he also becomes his teacher, teaching him to hunt for food, how to read the signs of nature, and the ways of his people. The friendship between Matt and Attean is strained as cultural differences and misunderstandings between their people start to develop. Matt also struggles to understand the complexities of the relationships between the Native Americans and the colonists.

Through the course of the movie, Matt transforms from a naive city kid to a skilled woodsman, and he learns important life lessons that will stay with him forever. When his father returns, Matt is torn between wanting to stay with Attean and his tribe or going back to Massachusetts with his family. In the end, Matt must make a difficult decision that will determine the course of his future.

The Sign of the Beaver is based on the classic children's book of the same name by Elizabeth George Speare. The movie, directed by Sheldon Larry and co-starring Indian actor Gordon Tootoosis (Attean), is a heartwarming tale of friendship, understanding, and perseverance set against the backdrop of the American wilderness during a time of great upheaval.

The movie portrays the natural world and the human relationships in it with great sensitivity and depth. It shines a light on the complex and often difficult relationship between Native Americans and the colonizers during the crucial time in American history. The Sign of the Beaver does an excellent job of portraying the Native American culture and giving a voice to an often-ignored part of history.

Keith Carradine and Annette O'Toole give excellent performances as the parents, while young Brendan Fletcher is impressive as young Matt. His role is the heart and soul of the movie and carries the film's message of understanding, respect, and friendship.

The movie is visually stunning, the lush landscapes of Maine looking magnificent on screen. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the film's score by Hagood Hardy complements the tone perfectly.

In conclusion, The Sign of the Beaver is a wonderful family movie set in a beautiful location, with fantastic performances from the cast, excellent direction, and a heartfelt story that will leave a lasting impression. It is a timeless tale of friendship, respect, and understanding that speaks to audiences of all ages.

The Sign of the Beaver is a 1997 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.