The Education of Little Tree (DVD, 2002)

This movie offers a view into a mountain culture long since extinct - the blend of Western and Indian influences in East Tennessee near the North Carolina border.

A touching story of love and life philosophy shared between grandparents and grandchild, in a natural setting that pits the typical patriarchal domination of right-wing white settlers against the nurturing, matriarchal Indian ways of great reverence for nature and humankind.

Plus, there's moonshinin', sleazy politicians, fiddlin' and cloggin' (not as authentic as could be, but not bad for Hollywood), and romantic revelations (shades of Jerry Springer shows to come!)

Entertaining and inspiring.

This movie has a wonderful telling of the Trail of Tears and a good feel of the prohibition times when moon shining was a dangerous trade. It's a shame Paramount put this out of print because I think it's a story everyone should see.

I rate this movie as even more fraudulent than the book because Hollywood takes such liberties.
Start-to-finish the book that this film is based LOOSELY on was concocted by the author. Anyone who knows much about the Aniyunwiyv, aka Cherokee, would spot this as a fraud from the first so-called Cherokee words Carter used, & the way he described life with his grandparents.
Despite the FACT that Carter was found out, revealed for the fake he was, & the book re-classified as FICTION, has not led publishers or makers of film to state that on the books & DVDs, etc, that are still marketed today! They KNOW this was all a bunch of hogwash but do not state this! Better to let the public believe the outright lies the author told? Better for booksellers & movie companies maybe! NOT better for the People he lied about!
Wouldn't buy the DVD or the book if they came encased in gold! To buy them just fuels the misconceptions about the Original People.

I love finding a movie the whole family can enjoy. It's so hard to find these days. I rented it from the library a few years ago and decided I would like it for my collection. A great movie for the whole family!

My husband's family is a mixed bag. Mom is part Cherokee and Dad is from Scotland so this story really had a lot of meaning for us. It is a wonderful family movie that is uplifting and real.

Good family movie about growing up with the innosence of a child learning to cope with the loss of a mother and father. The grandparents take on the role of parents and teach lessons in life that are strong and loving. Good acting and great scenry combine to enhance the effectiveness of this mmovie. Great.

Wonderful, heartfelt movie! James Cromwell is great in this movie and the story line is moving. Everyone I know that has seen this movie loves it.

Its a very good family movie,enjoy sharing it with family and friends.Love the actors and the places thatit was filmed at.Just a good movie with a good meaning about the way that people lived.

For years I had seen this one on the shelf, but had never watched it until this week. Wow. Excellent acting and beautiful locations,story stays a little distant, but still an excellent movie. Tackles racial prejudice and hatred head on. Shows the importance of family and individuality.Title character is an eight year old Cherokee who goes to live with his grandparents when his parents die.His hate-filled aunt causes conflict when she has Little Tree sent to an Indian boarding school.In the long run, everything works out for him, but it's quite a bumpy road.

THIS STORY IS SO TOUCHING. I READ IT YEARS AGO AND WAS EXCITED TO FIND IT ON EBAY. YOU WILL ENJOY IT.

This is a great movie. It helps to educate people on the history of the cherokee people as well as appalachian people in history. I give it two thumbs up!