We've seen a number of Canadian films tell the stories of Indigenous people and what they have suffered at the hands of the government. The stories don't get easier to hear. Trouble in the Garden stands out as an exceptionally told story that is entertaining, thoughtful, and informative.
We meet Pippa (Cara Gee), a Indigenous protester who is arrested as she tries to stop a real estate project being built on treaty land. Pippa gets bailed out by her estranged brother Colin (Jon Cor). Colin takes her to his family home, where Pippa is under house arrest.
"It's just for a week." There is clearly tension between the siblings.
Alice (Kelly Van der Burg), Pippa's very pregnant sister-in-law, is surprised to see Pippa, saying they hadn't seen her since the wedding. Pippa points out that she now goes by Raven. She also meets her niece Grace (Persephone Koty) for the first time.
The obvious difference is that Raven is Indigenous and the rest of her family is Caucasian.
Alice makes a remark later to Colin about how Pippa had ruined their wedding.
Who calls Raven as Raven instead of Pippa? Characters growth or lack of growth depends on whether they call her Pippa or Raven. Raven's foster parents who come by to visit not knowing she will be there. Raven/Pippa was disowned by the father. The irony is thick with the parents chasing his Scottish relatives while Raven has many more questions about her birth family and roots.
Turns out Colin is selling the real estate projects on the stolen land and that his parents have a house in that project. Raven is horrified to learn this news. This also makes her look bad to her friends who are protesting the projects.
In a lot of films, you wouldn't hear much from Alice as a character. This is what writer/director Roz Owen gets right about this film.
Their relationship is awkward but feels very real, good and bad. Alice appreciates Raven's connection with Gracie. Alice asks the questions along the way to help the audience understand what Raven is going through in her life. This helps educate the non-Indigenous people watching the film.
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Gee is really excellent at carrying a film. She has to carry a lot of torment and anguish in circumstances where she can't be as verbal with the character.
Trouble in the Garden is Owen's full-length directorial debut. Owen shows the parallel of chasing over roots that helps a non-Indigenous audience comprehend why Raven is so tormented. The pacing of the film flows freely with no pauses or awkward editing.
Trouble in the Garden can be found on CBC Gem in Canada and Amazon Prime Video in the United States.
video credit: YouTube/Vortex Media
photo credit: Trouble in the Garden film
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