ingredients : little orphan boy , rural grandparents , mountains , native american lore synopsis : in this loving film portrayal of an idyllic and pivotal time that a young boy spends with grandpa and grandma , the self recollections of an unseen narrator focus on his world view as a tennessee orphan boy learning of his heritage through his grandparents .
the setting is after the first world war , during the great depression years .
a nine - year - old orphan named little tree ( joseph ashton ) is taken in and taught the wondrous ways of the woods by his caucasian moonshiner grandpa ( james cromwell ) and his native american grandma ( tantoo cardinal ) in the wilderness of the mountains of tennessee .
here little tree learns an almost magical appreciation for nature and farm life - - and experiences beautiful and wondrous things such as the sunrise .
everything is miraculous to a child .
but it all comes crashing down for the boy when the u . s .
government forcibly takes custody away from grandpa and grandma , and forces little tree to attend the notched gap boarding school , a kind of internment camp where multiracial cherokee kids are indoctrinated to dress , pray , speak , and think like white people or face solitary confinement and corporeal punishment .
through his childhood experiences , little tree learns lessons about love , race , life , death , people , nature , and folk wisdom .
opinion : this excellent , excellent family movie .
it is one of those priceless screen gems that nobody knows about because it 's not highly advertised .
you wo n't find any formula schlock , cutesy characters , canned spirituality , sequel teasers or commercial tie ins , but you will find the education of little tree to be a refreshing , impeccably acted , original , wonderful , and touching film .
take the whole family and bring a box of tissues for the tearjerkers .
this one 's as good as old yeller .
a refreshing , impeccably acted , original , wonderful , and touching film . take the whole family this excellent , excellent family movie this one 's as good as old yeller one of those priceless screen gems