As a Canadian and a Christian, I was shocked at claims of genocide and mass graves when they were first made. Since then I am continually looking for the Truth. Not one body, not one charge by the RCMP, and shock-u-mentary like this one filled with lies. Just another get on the gravy train while it still exists. Canadians have a right to evidence based truths, not fictional story telling like this turned out to be after a couple hours of looking for the truth.

Starting as a low-boil documentary unfolding the story of Canadian boarding schools, the heartbreak comes as the survivors better understand the horrors they and previous generations endured.

Powerful. Devastating. Painful. Unmarked graves. Incinerators. Victims and witnesses. This was cultural genocide.

Every country has a stain on their history. This is unfortunately Canada's. Finding these unmarked graves re-opened generally still fresh wounds among the native population. This film is a raw emotional portrayal of the suffering and resilience found among survivors of residential schools.

Viewing this shockumentary should be for the entertainment value only. It is so shallow on hard facts that when checked into, the viewer would realize this is no more than a story telling. Many lies are told in order to have the outcome the producers wanted.

This is a documentary about deaths at Canadian Indian schools, a pretty awful history echoed on our side of the border. Like some of the other nominees I’ve seen, though, the important story was just not presented in a way I appreciated. In this case, it was … told … so … slowly. I was truly interested, but I literally had to shake myself out of falling asleep multiple times. Like The Six Triple Eight, I think I’d rather just have read the Wikipedia page.

Devastating doesn’t even begin to cover it. The movie hit hard, really hard. The wake of trauma these men left behind is staggering. And it’s not just the individuals affected -- it’s the generational trauma that never really leaves. The Catholic Church, and all the complicit players, left this massive wound. It’s not just in the past; it’s a cycle that keeps rolling forward, revisiting the children of the traumatized. That’s the especially haunting part. I don’t know how to reconcile it all. I’m surrounded by beauty in the world and at the same time, I’m faced with darkness that’s impossible to ignore. And then there's the land I live on, stolen from indigenous people through acts not my own, yet still tied to me. Even if it’s not my direct ancestors, it’s my culture’s doing. Just... wrecked. Totally wrecked.

Documenting a shameful time in Canadian history, Sugarcane chronicles the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at Residential schools in Williams Lake, BC, Canada. Run by the Catholic Church from the late 1800's until the last one was closed in 1997 (in Canada and the United States), and created to solve "the Indian problem", these schools suppressed the culture and heritage of the Native children while covering up physical and sexual abuse of the students. When the girls would get pregnant, they were taken away to give birth and the babies for incinerated. A tough watch but an important one.

I dont get how a documentary can have so many factual errors. The big proof is supposed to be Priest DNA, which proves nothing. The incinerator claim is even more ridiculous and has no real evidence. You’d think after the Canadian mass graves turned out to be hoaxes films like this wouldnt be acceptable to once great NatGeo. But the Disney campaign against Catholics must continue. Disgusting.

"Sugarcane" is quietly devastating to watch but shines awareness on an important topic. The topic this movie gets into is something I only really learned about recently, and it is one of the great tragedies in both the U.S. and Canada. I hope many people watch this movie despite it being tough at times. I do think the pacing of the documentary is very slow and it will turn some people off, but I felt it was a topic I wanted to know about, so I was engaged. Overall, it is a strong documentary from 2024 and one that feels timely until justice is found for the victims in this film as well as anyone else not in it.

#Sugarcane is undoubtedly an important doc, and handles its subject with an immense amount of tact, allowing the people & their stories speak for themselves. But while the doc is sleek, its slow pace & lack of depth leave me feeling a bit disconnected from the emotion on screen.

A topic of great importance across the Americas, but especially for Canada and the U.S. Indigenous people still suffer the consequences of these institutions, the residential schools. The film portrays the situation in a somewhat monotonous way, but one that reflects the long wait these people endure for reparations—whether from the Church, the State, or simply to find the remains of the children who were tortured and killed by priests and nuns. The most powerful testimonies add weight to the documentary, which at times makes you laugh, but in the end leaves you with the same feeling as the people who, to this day, are still waiting for answers and justice.

I thought documentaries were supposed to be based on fact? NO bodies have been found, and that guy who said his dad was born there under "whatever" circumstances.. your GRANDMOTHER gave birth in a car, was NOT a current student, and put him in a furnace! It's well documented. The church saved him. Those are just two falsehoods JUST from the trailer. STOP LYING ABOUT CANADA

This is a love story for a son to his father, and his father to his grandmother. Love truly is stronger than evil.

Watching Sugarcane left me frustrated by its deliberate omissions and manipulative storytelling. At 11:31 and 1:01:30, the film suggests Ed Archie NoiseCat was born at the mission school, implying his mother was a student. However, at 1:28:45, a newspaper article shows she was 20 years old which is far too old to be a student since this residential school's leaving age was 16. The filmmakers also claim Rick Gilbert’s DNA links him to a priest, but his mother, born in 1928, was 18 in 1946, too old to be a student. With many Irish, Scottish, and English settlers in the area, the father could have been anyone with the McGrath surname. I won’t go into everything that was incorrect here. I’m shocked and appalled this so-called documentary received an Oscar nomination, given its lack of professionalism and research. If you want to see how badly they fumbled this historical fiction, check out Michelle Stirling’s reports: - The Bitter Roots of Sugarcane - Sugarcane: Denialism or Factualism.

This film did a very good job of personalizing the families surviving the St. Joseph mission school. Sometimes Indigenous/Canadian history feels like too much to take in, but knowing the personal stories makes the reality feel more urgent. It makes reconciliation and truth feel like the very least Canadians and the Catholic Church can do. It is a very sad history and it is still played out in the daily life of my neighbours.

Good movie! So many things left unsaid, but the trauma that did happen there was spoken about! Leaves more questions unanswered! The traumas did carry on to the next generation, the hatred, the bullying, and the shunning of their own people! Glad to see people starting to talk now!

The stories of survivors lingered in my thoughts long after watching "Sugarcane." This documentary takes a deep dive into the painful legacy left by the Catholic Church's treatment of Indigenous peoples in North America. The raw and emotional narratives are not just historical accounts; they highlight the ongoing struggles that continue today, particularly with the last residential school closing in 1997. Viewing it on a streaming platform, I found myself grappling with uncomfortable truths about our shared history and the injustices faced by First Nations communities. "Sugarcane" transcends the typical documentary format; it is a vital confrontation with our past that demands reflection and understanding. Essential viewing for anyone interested in justice and historical accountability.

As the credits rolled on "Sugarcane," the haunting stories of survivors echoed in my mind, leaving a lasting impression. This documentary takes you on a profound emotional journey, shedding light on the painful legacy of the Catholic Church's treatment of Indigenous peoples in North America. The raw narratives shared are not mere historical accounts; they reveal the ongoing struggles that persist today, particularly with the last residential school closing in 1997. Watching it on a streaming platform, I was confronted with uncomfortable truths about our collective history and the injustices faced by First Nations communities. "Sugarcane" is not just a documentary; it’s a crucial confrontation with our past that demands attention and reflection. Essential viewing for anyone seeking to understand these historical injustices.

The haunting stories of survivors resonated deeply with me as I watched "Sugarcane." This documentary takes you on a profound emotional journey, exposing the painful legacy of the Catholic Church's treatment of Indigenous peoples in North America. The raw narratives shared are not just echoes of the past; they highlight the ongoing struggles and suffering that persist today, especially with the last residential school closing in 1997. Viewing it on a streaming platform, I was compelled to confront uncomfortable truths about our collective history and the injustices faced by First Nations communities. "Sugarcane" is more than just a documentary; it’s a necessary confrontation with our past that demands attention and reflection. This film is essential for anyone who seeks to understand and acknowledge the impact of these historical injustices.