Lost in the Barrens (1991)

"Your strength and your courage will be shown in the good works that you do for others." When the trust fund keeping orphaned Jamie in his upper-class boarding school runs out, he must cross the continent to live with his Uncle Angus, a fur trapper, in the Canadian wilderness. Disobeying his father, Awasis, a native boy, and Jamie explore the breathtaking territory on their own. A careless accident makes the unlikely pair realize that their disobedience could cost them their lives. A loyal friendship is sparked as they begin to their vast cultural differences in a different light. But will that light burn brightly enough to lead them safely home?

I have loved this story for decades....

If my memory serves, forty plus years ago I read this story as "Two Against the North" and I immediately remembered it when my wife purchased it as a "Feature Films for Families" titled "Lost in the Barrens." I loved the book and thought that the movie did a beautiful job in bringing it to the screen. I suppose it is inevitable that some teenagers today will be much to cynical to allow themselves to enjoy the movie, but I feel that is their loss. I have used it with my younger teen students with good success.
If you enjoy good movies made from good children's books, I highly recommend "Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy" made from the book "The Whipping Boy." With apologies to Mr. Fleischman, I think the movie in this case is better than the book (a rarity).Prince Brat & Whipping Boy
April 16, 2008

Good one!

Our family watched this movie on TV when our daughter was very small and recently bought it to add to our collection. It is a very interesting and informative film. It is suspenseful, but not too much for young children. Don't miss it. October 19, 2007

The most unlikely Friends.....

These two boys are from entirely different worlds. Amazingly they become the best of friends when they encounter a situation where they have to depend upon each other for survival or die. This is an awesome movie, blending the teaching of the Indian ways from the Native American boy to the white boy, and the white boy learning many lessons of the beautiful wild nature that he learned to love and treasure. I highly recommend this movie. July 6, 2007

One of the worst movies ever made

My mom bought this movie for my brother and me when we were in high school. It featured Hollywood Native American favorite Graham Greene, so she figured we might like it. What we got were some of the best laughs ever elicited from a bad movie. The coming of age ceremony was the best, and to this day my brother and I still make fun of the line, "With the blessings of the spirits, you are now a man." Maybe kids 8 and under haven't fully developed a sense of irony and sarcasm to realize what a gem of a bad movie this truly is, but anyone in their teenage years will appreciate it for a true stinker to be ridiculed after the manner of Battlefield Earth. May 19, 2007

teaches many good values

My 10 and 8 year old sons really enjoyed it, as did I. It teaches many good values, such as forgiveness, loyalty, courage, respect. In reference to guns, the wise uncle explains that guns are tools and to be respected, which I found refreshing in this age of either irrational fear of guns or extreme gun violence in movies.

It was a little over-the-top on indian religion. It showed a deer coming after the indian boy prayed to its spirit and allowing itself to be killed for food. As a Christian parent I had the opportunity to explain differences in beliefs and that I imagine that indians have to hunt their food the same as everyone else. November 10, 2006

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