The Canadian Where the Spirit Lives begins on a sombre note, as several Native American children are forcibly rounded up by the government and placed in orphanages. As sparse as life was on the reservation, it is even worse in these government-supported institutions. The latest arrival is Michelle St. John, a girl possessed with more than the usual quotient of feistiness. Refusing to buckle under the system, Michelle attempts daring escape. Despite its grim trappings, Where the Spirit Lives is an ultimately uplifting experience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide