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Beans is a Canadian drama film released in 2020. Directed by Tracey Deer, Beans is set against the backdrop of the 1990 Oka Crisis in Quebec, Canada. The film displays the experiences of a 12-year-old Indigenous girl named Beans, played by Kiawentiio, during the crisis. Beans is a regular girl living with her family on the Mohawk reservation in Quebec. Everything changes when a group of Mohawks stand against the construction of a golf course on their burial ground. The protest leads to a violent stand-off between the military and the Mohawks, lasting for 78 tense and deadly days. This conflict creates a rift in the Indigenous community, ultimately changing their lives forever.

The Oka crisis that begins to unfold before Beans' eyes unleashes a series of events she never expected to face. Striving to understand where she comes from and what it means to be Mohawk, Beans navigates through feelings of anger and confusion in a world that refuses to see her as more than just a statistic. As the situation escalates, she witnesses the brutal crackdown of Indigenous protesters by the Canadian government.

Beans is faced with a struggle to find her identity as she tries to balance learning about her heritage with confronting the harsh realities of racism and discrimination. Struggles of betrayal, trauma, and loss all come into play as Beans begins to position herself in a larger fight for Indigenous rights.

As she watches her family and community be torn apart by the crisis, Beans must decide what type of future she wants for herself while weighing her actions against the impact they will have on the people around her. Though the story is sad, it leaves behind a positive message and serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching damage of political violence and discrimination against Indigenous communities.

The portrayal of Beans is commendable as she moves from being a naive young girl to a pensive and self-aware pre-teen. Her character development is quite remarkable and will be well-received by audience members. The cast does an excellent job in bringing to life the traumatic experiences of this young girl and her community.

The visual effects of the movie are stunning, bringing viewers into the heart of the conflict through powerful visuals, terrific sound placement, and an affecting score. The rawness of the story is something that one can testify, leading to a realistic portrayal of a political crisis that overcomes Bean's life as she tries to understand her people.

Overall, Beans is a movie that will be remembered for years to come, contributing to the collective conversation about Canada's fraught history with its Indigenous population. The story is captivating and well-executed, showing that racial violence is not only something of history but is still occurring today. Beans is a touching tribute to those who have walked before us, who fought and continue to fight for justice, and who will never be forgotten.

Beans is a 2021 drama. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 74.