(wind blowing)
(haunting music)
(insects chirping)
(crow cawing)
(man): Are you hungry? I said, are you hungry?
Because it's your lucky day. Rations are in.
Come on up here!
Come on, let's go! Let's get a move on!
There you go! You can make it!
Yeah, keep on coming!
Here we are.
There you go.
Come on right up here!
(train whistle blowing in the distance)
Come on, let's go.
Come on. Let's go. Right up here.
Come on. Right up.
Come on. Come on up.
There we go, we got flour,
We got fresh meat, we got vegetables, and fruit.
Hmm? Come on then, come on now.
Let's go! Oh, yes, you, young man!
Come on, come right up here.
There you go, there you go.
April fool's day!
(laughs jeeringly)
April fool's day!
(man laughing)
We got nothing!
It's April fools day! - Mr. Quinn, stop!
- It's a fucking joke! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Joke!
How do you say "joke" in cree?
(crickets chirping)
(speaking cree)
(repeating in cree)
- Huh? (laughs jeeringly)
- You can't take a joke?
Ah, fuck off then!
Go on, get away. Get away, hmm?
Get away with ya's!
(tense music)
Bunch of useless fuckers!
(wind blowing)
(solemn music)
I said, are you hungry?
Yeah, well, if you're hungry,
You'll go to the reservation we gave you,
You ungrateful leeches!
Now, for...
For the love of god...
(horse neighing)
(suspenseful music)
(music escalates)
(gun clicks)
(crows cawing)
(harmonica music playing)
(singing in cree)
(guitar strumming)
♪ if my friend ain't got no money ♪
♪ and I say, take all of mine, honey ♪
♪ ain't nobody's business if I do ♪
♪ if I do, do, do, do ♪
♪ if I give him my last nickel ♪
♪ and it leaves us in a pickle ♪
♪ it ain't nobody's business if I do ♪
♪ if we do, do, do ♪
(speaking in cree)
♪ business if I do ♪
(speaking in cree)
(distant dog barking)
(sighing)
(gentle music)
(man whispering): Aline... Aline...
(piano music playing)
You usually smile when you play.
(piano music stops)
(chuckling)
You have me now.
- We should get dressed.
We're going to be late to our own wedding.
(chuckling)
- I could stay here forever.
- Hmm. Me too.
But the world has different plans for us.
- Come on.
Oh...
- Cold feet?
- No, it's just... My shoelace.
(both chuckling)
- Come on.
- You're good at that.
- Don't get any ideas!
- Are you sure about this?
- I was sure the first time I saw you.
- Okay.
(giggling)
(gentle music)
(indistinct chatter)
(officiant speaking french)
- I do.
(speaking french)
- I do.
(speaking cree)
(aline): Thanks for coming.
(speaking cree)
(indistinct chattering)
- You all right?
- Yeah.
It's been a long time since I've seen my brother.
He was always the lucky one.
But he doesn't have you.
Which makes me the luckiest bastard in the world.
- I want you to be-- - careful.
I think it will be a careful war.
- Stop it. - I'll be careful.
I have you now.
I'll be careful.
(speaking cree)
Say it.
(speaking ayajuthem)
(train bell ringing)
- We don't have goodbyes in my language.
(speaking cree)
- We don't have goodbyes in my language either.
(speaking ayajuthem)
(steam engine hissing)
(solemn music)
(train rattling)
(whistle blowing)
(tense music)
(rhythmic stomping)
- Mr. Miller. - Sister ruth.
Good afternoon.
It's time for aline's piano lesson. Three o'clock.
- I know how to tell time.
- Yes, sister.
- We've been experiencing
A burden of duties, mr. Miller.
With so many of our children sick,
We need to knuckle down and pick up the slack.
I'm sure you understand.
- Forgive me, but...
I'm not sure father jacobs would... Understand, sister.
He has requested aline play at his special dinner next week.
And she will need to prepare
And practice the piece he has selected.
He's in his study if you'd like to speak with him.
- No. That won't be necessary.
Enjoy your time, aline.
Your duties await you.
Not all of us have special privileges.
Keep the line straight and your eyes down.
No need to idle.
Keep the line straight.
- There is a request from father jacobs.
It's... A complicated piece.
But... I think you're ready for it.
- Yes, mr. Miller.
(scoffing)
- I told you, you're becoming better at this.
- Yes.
- I want you to close your eyes.
I'm going to take your hand.
And put it over mine.
Like this.
Now, find my left hand.
Now, just listen to the notes as I play them.
And stay on top of my hands.
(piano notes)
There you go.
(piano music playing)
What are you feeling?
- I feel... Free.
- We share the love of music.
I can see that in you.
You can be free...
In this room, aline.
You can be free with me.
(horse neighing)
(serene music)
(piano music resumes)
- Attention!
As you were.
You.
(typewriters clacking)
My name is major stevens.
- Aline. - Spears. I know.
You're graduating soon.
- Yes, sir.
- Congratulations on that.
And, of course, your marriage. He's overseas?
- Yes, he was sent over right after.
- Do you know where your husband is stationed?
- First, london.
And then, he'll receive his orders from there.
- We're sending you to london, after your graduation.
- I thought most of the morse code operators
Were based here in canada, sir?
- That's correct, but we're putting together
A special operation.
It says in your file you're cree.
- Yes, sir. If that's a problem--
- On the contrary. Are you still fluent in your language?
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
- No, sir. I mean...
Yes, sir, I still speak cree.
- The opportunity I'm talking about
Would be a secret division within the canadian air forces.
It's highly sensitive.
You'll be briefed when you get there.
- I understand.
- How good are you at keeping secrets?
I don't mean to be indelicate, but women...
...Aren't known for this skill.
- I have a lot of experience.
- Do you want time to think about it?
- No, sir.
- We'll be in touch after your graduation.
Twenty-four words a minute, I hear.
- Yes, sir.
Thank you for the opportunity. Sir.
- Aline.
Your left hand.
- It doesn't interfere with my work, sir.
It was a... Childhood accident.
- We might be able to do something about it.
Would that be of interest to you?
- Yes, sir.
Thank you.
(speaking cree)
(church bells ringing)
(indistinct chatter)
(distant phone ringing)
- My name is charlie tomkins. I'm from alberta,
Around grand prairie. Métis/cree. Welcome.
- Aline spears. Cree.
- Would you like to follow me?
- Yes. Thank you.
- We've come up with a system to translate english into cree,
And then back again.
I'll walk you through a few things here,
And I'll walk into the other room,
And we'll continue to translate over the phone.
It's pretty straightforward.
(phone ringing)
But there are some things we cree don't have words for.
Like there is no word for a spitfire plane.
So I've named it iskotew.
- Fire.
- Yes, fire. The mustang aircraft...
(speaking cree)
Other common names we use are...
(speaking cree)
- Bee. Seventeen.
- For the b17 bombers. - Hmm.
What would you say if an order read,
"twenty b17 bombers spotted"?
(speaking cree)
- Excellent.
You'll receive codes from the field in cree
And then translate them into english to the commanders here,
And vice versa.
The germans haven't been able to crack our code.
How did you keep your language?
- Secret codes.
- We've been training all our lives.
You can call me checker.
- Okay. Checker.
(footsteps receding)
(tense music)
(cutlery clinking)
(piano music playing)
- Here, at this school, we have 324 students
Who are being kept on a strict diet.
A caloric measure
That will keep them in a state of malnutrition.
Little meat, little fresh vegetables,
And a low-grade flour which we purchased
At a damn good price.
This allows us to keep costs here low,
Which I'm sure you can appreciate allows
For other human luxuries such as this beautiful meal.
(chortling)
- I think you're stringing us along for effect.
How are you gathering your data? Hmm?
- Biochemical tests to measure protein for growth.
As well as intellectual and aptitude tests
To see how this affects their ability to learn.
Nothing conclusive yet.
Naturally, we're seeing a rise in sickness,
Particularly, tb and the measles.
Disease feeds on poverty conditions.
On the other hand, we're giving 126 of our students
Vitamins and iron supplements, and we are monitoring them.
We keep all food under lock and key,
And all dietary records are kept for all meals,
So that we can manage the outcome.
- Perseverance.
- It's too much. They need more food.
(chuckling) - nonsense. Nonsense, thomas.
You know, I worry about this new generation.
Too soft. Just off the boat to boot.
(all laughing)
- I think that we owe a lot to your mother country,
Mr. Miller.
If it wasn't for England,
The residential school system would never exist.
Industrial-- - they were abolished in 1843.
- Industrial schools were what made England great.
Colonization of ireland, south africa, australia,
New zealand, and now canada.
Indian... All of them, one way or another.
Not a shred of civilization combined.
What's the name of the deputy...
Indian affairs fellow? What did he call it?
- The final solution to the indian problem.
Duncan campbell scott.
- Oui, oui, oui, yes, oui. (chuckling)
- Votre excellence... I mean, your excellency
Rarely speaks, but when he does...
One-two!
(all laughing)
(snickering)
Ah, come on, thomas, don't look so glum.
- John a. Macdonald said, "if you want to motivate
The indian, you must starve him."
Who are we to argue with such visionaries?
Progress waits for no man.
(piano music playing)
(glass clinking)
- Thomas.
Would you get aline to play bach?
The piece I requested.
- Oh. Yes.
- Hey!
(thudding)
(all laughing)
(piano music stops)
(piano music resumes)
- A prodigy in our midst.
It is a great mystery that someone of her race,
With no training,
With no access to the cultured things in life,
Can play like a young wonder.
God works his miracles in all of us
And he's merciful to be sure.
(chuckling)
Oh,
Young thomas also had news. Please, share.
- I've been accepted as a deacon.
- Bravo! Ha-ha! (all applauding)
Our man of the cloth.
Welcome to the brotherhood.
(clinking)
(crow cawing)
(wings flapping)
(moaning)
- You've gotten skinny.
You okay?
- I will be.
Word is it could be months.
Or even weeks.
- We'll get to set up a home soon.
Start a family.
- I haven't heard the word "home" in a long time.
You?
- No.
We'll have to decide where we want to live.
They'll give us land when we're released.
- I wouldn't count on it.
Indian guys that have been shipped off to canada
Got nothing.
No land. No benefits.
We can't count on anything.
- Things have changed.
(drink pouring)
- I know you think...
Being in a special, secret unit makes you special.
But you wait.
They take everything in you, leave you nothing.
Like, why is it you can't even tell your own husband
What you do?
- I took an oath.
- An oath?
You took an oath to me.
Or that doesn't count?
Any other secrets you haven't told me?
- What are you talking about?
- How many men were you with before me?
There's... There's something you're not telling me.
Some secret inside you.
(breathing heavily)
(somber music)
I'm sorry.
I love you.
It's just...
It's been a long damn war.
(thunder rumbling)
(suspenseful music)
(haunting music)
(music intensifies)
(boy): Adam, look!
(speaking ayajuthem)
(speaking dutch)
- It's going to be all right.
(gentle humming)
(distant explosions)
(buzzing)
- You look worried, aline.
The surgery on your hand is going to go just fine.
You won't feel a thing.
- I wish that was true.
Could have been true.
- We'll count you down backwards.
10, 9, 8, 7,
6, 5...
(speaking cree)
(suspenseful music)
(rapid breathing)
(ominous music)
(crow cawing)
- Did you think you were above everything?
(shakily) - no, sister.
- Did you think your actions would not have consequences?
- No, sister.
(wind howling)
(gasping)
(screaming)
- You're not above me.
You're just another worthless indian in the dirt.
Let's see how special you are when you can't play your piano.
(laboured breathing)
You think you're untouchable,
But god sees everything, and he can get to you.
(gasping)
(footsteps approaching)
Father.
- Shh.
- Father, she tried to--
- She's only an indian,
But she was a special indian.
A child prodigy.
(speaking french)
She was a symbol that what we are doing here
In this residential school is above others.
From a savage to a world-class pianist.
Such a possibility existed. But now...
- Aline? Aline!
(footsteps rapidly approaching)
(breathing heavily)
- Aline!
Aline!
(tense music)
(breathing rapidly)
(groaning)
- She has two broken ribs from the fall, and her hand...
- What about her piano?
- I'm sorry.
- I won't be able to play?
- You have other talents.
God takes one thing away...
...And gives another.
(speaking cree)
- I know you are hurting, aline,
But you must watch your language.
(cracking)
(screaming)
(distorted): God takes one thing away...
...And gives another.
(humming)
(distant vehicles passing)
(distant car horn honking)
(church bells ringing)
- It's my grandmother's song.
She used to sing it to my brother and me.
- Don't you think it's too early?
Something... Wrong might happen.
- It'll make her stronger.
- Her?
- It's a her. I know it.
- Are you scared?
- No.
We'll be okay.
Are you scared?
- Yeah. A little.
- That's why we have each other.
We'll make it work.
You're leaving next week. And...
I just have one more deployment.
You'll finally have the use of your...
Left hand again,
Maybe even play piano with two hands.
And we can finally start this life we've been talking about.
We'll have this baby girl, and then we can have a boy.
- You're getting ahead of yourself.
(chuckling)
Mm.
(gentle music)
- I'm just so happy.
I'm so happy.
What's wrong?
Talk to me.
- When things are too good...
I'm just scared that things will be taken away.
You're so happy.
I don't want to spoil everything.
- You're not spoiling everything.
The war is almost over.
Who will take that away?
- I don't know.
I just have a feeling...
...That something bad is coming.
And we won't be able to protect them.
- From what?
- The world.
(tense music)
- It's the law, matthew.
You'll go to jail if you don't sign.
You don't want to go to jail, hmm?
Think of the education they will receive.
You want that, don't you, January?
For them to be educated?
Think about that.
Maybe they won't have to live like this
For the rest of their lives.
They can have a real future.
- I want my children home where they should be.
Children need their parents!
We-we provide for them! We love them!
- I'm tired of the jawing here.
All the squaw needs to know is we can throw them in jail
And throw away the key.
- Won't be much good to your children then.
(woman crying)
(speaking cree)
(ominous music)
(breathing heavily)
- Ah.
That's a smart man, matthew.
One day, your family will thank you for this.
You'll see.
(haunting music)