I saw this movie on the CBC's "For The Record" film series back in '77 and it has haunted me to this day. I have a copy of it and watch it every once in a while when I want to relive the story not unlike settling down to a good book. It is a beautiful and horrible story of how society treated people with behaviored problems and institutionalized them for safekeeping without regard to their personal feelings and motivations.
In this story, a young boy is institutionalized for setting fires, a common acting out of personal rage and demands for attention. He is ignored and sent away where he is alone even though he is surrounded by like-minded social misfits. He manages to escape and after a harrowing journey he befriends an old First Nations Elder and his companion who understand and help Peter. But before any chance for transformation is complete society intercedes and sets the stage for a horrible and tragic end.
This film was ahead of its time in that it challenged us to think of how we as a society can reach out and help those people who otherwise would be locked up for the crimes of containing and acting out their fears and rage.
In this story, a young boy is institutionalized for setting fires, a common acting out of personal rage and demands for attention. He is ignored and sent away where he is alone even though he is surrounded by like-minded social misfits. He manages to escape and after a harrowing journey he befriends an old First Nations Elder and his companion who understand and help Peter. But before any chance for transformation is complete society intercedes and sets the stage for a horrible and tragic end.
This film was ahead of its time in that it challenged us to think of how we as a society can reach out and help those people who otherwise would be locked up for the crimes of containing and acting out their fears and rage.
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