The Education of Little Tree (1997)

This quietly observed coming-of-age drama has much to recommend it, from the performances of all four leads to its eloquent observations of the natural world. If it falls short of classic status, it's because of its soft center. Little Tree's education consists of understanding "the Way," but the tenets of the Way remain vague and elusive. Clearly, it does involve a respect for nature, but where does Grandpa's moonshine business fit into that philosophy? (The best whiskey is the homemade kind?) It's also not clear if the Way involves home schooling, or if the isolation of the grandparents' cabin is to blame for their charge not attending public school. Both Grandpa's well-known business and Little Tree's failure to attend school lead to the boy's consignment to the Notch Gap Indian School. And why do the grandparents attend a church that preaches hatred against Jews and Catholics and invites an oily politician to make a campaign stop? The film's inability to address these contradictions is disappointing, though not a fatal flaw. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide