Beans – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Beans

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2021

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A Mohawk girl comes of age during the 1990 Oka Crisis—powerful, heavy, and essential Indigenous storytelling for older teens.

91%

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Beans

movie

14, 2021

72%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A Mohawk girl comes of age during the 1990 Oka Crisis—powerful, heavy, and essential Indigenous storytelling for older teens.

91%

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Screenwise Verdict

Beans is not an easy watch, but it's an important one. This is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of real historical trauma—the 1990 Oka Crisis, when Mohawk protesters faced violent opposition over land rights in Quebec. Through 12-year-old Beans' eyes, we see how racism and systemic violence shatter childhood innocence and force rapid, painful growth.

The film is critically acclaimed for good reason: it's honest, culturally significant, and offers a perspective rarely centered in mainstream cinema. But it's heavy. This isn't a feel-good family movie night pick. It's for older teens (15+) who can handle the emotional weight and engage with the history and themes in a meaningful way.

If your teen is ready for serious, empathy-building cinema that confronts uncomfortable truths, Beans is essential. If they're not there yet, save it for later.

Age Fit

Best for ages 15 and up. The film's depiction of racism, trauma, and a child's loss of innocence is emotionally intense and requires maturity to process. Younger teens may find it overwhelming; older teens and adults will find it profoundly enriching.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Depicts a 12-year-old navigating identity and resilience during a real historical crisis (Oka Crisis, 1990). The film shows her torn between childhood innocence and the harsh realities of racism and violence she faces. While it models strength and cultural pride, the tone is heavy and the subject matter includes racial tension and trauma—emotionally appropriate for teens but not light viewing.

Imaginative

Strong coming-of-age narrative rooted in real Indigenous history. The film invites viewers to understand a specific cultural perspective and historical moment rarely depicted in mainstream cinema. It's character-driven rather than plot-spectacle, asking audiences to imagine themselves in Beans' shoes during a turbulent, formative summer. Not fantastical or world-building in a traditional sense, but deeply human and perspective-expanding.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 15+, reflecting mature themes: racial violence, verbal abuse, and the psychological impact of systemic racism on a child. The film depicts real-world trauma during the Oka Crisis—protesters facing hostility, a young girl experiencing racism firsthand. No graphic gore or sexual content, but the emotional weight and depictions of discrimination are intense and could be distressing for younger or sensitive viewers. This isn't a surprise-scary movie, but it's heavy.

Enriching

Deeply enriching for teens and adults. Beans offers a rare, authentic window into Indigenous experience in Canada, the Oka Crisis, and the real-world impact of colonialism and racism on a child's development. It builds empathy, challenges viewers to confront uncomfortable truths, and provides historical context often missing from curricula. Strong critical reception (91% RT critics, 74 Metacritic) underscores its cultural and educational value. For the right age group, this is essential viewing.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Rare, authentic depiction of Indigenous experience and the Oka Crisis—a piece of Canadian history rarely told on screen
Strong critical acclaim (91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 Metacritic) for its emotional honesty and cultural significance
Builds empathy and historical understanding, challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about racism and colonialism
Character-driven coming-of-age story that shows resilience and identity formation under extreme pressure

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What to Watch For

Heavy emotional content: depicts racism, verbal abuse, and the psychological toll of discrimination on a child
Not for younger kids—Common Sense Media recommends 15+ due to mature themes and intensity
This is a serious, sometimes painful watch; not entertainment in the lighthearted sense, but deeply meaningful

Conversation Starters

"What do you know about the Oka Crisis? How does learning about it through Beans' eyes change your understanding?"
"How do you think experiencing racism affects someone your age? What would you do in Beans' situation?"
"Why do you think this story isn't taught more widely in schools? What other histories do we not hear about?"
"How does Beans balance wanting to fit in with staying true to her identity and community?"

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