The Doe Boy (2001)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

The acting in this movie is really good.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

After watching this film a few times I fully understand why James Duval's character was extremely frustrated growing up during childhood. In my opinion, his father was just a controlling white guy who didn't give 2 hoots about his wife's Cherokee culture. It was hard to tell if he truly loved his family or not. But I didn't get any impression that he cared enough about them. I don't know why he married into a Native family to begin with. He clearly didn't care about their ways, customs and culture. He didn't even agree with the boy's grandfather, Marvin, who in my eyes was as respectably knowledgeable as any true Elder would be. Other than the fact that Duval's father was completely disrespectful towards the Native ways, I really don't know why he was so desensitized to his wife's Native ways.I recall one scene where him and Duval were talking downstairs in the basement. Apparently they were talking about something regarding a war of some sort. After a few minutes the discussion turned into an argument and the father ended up slapping him across the face just because he told him something that was absolutely true. The father didn't want to hear it because he knew it was true so he physically lashed out on him. Of course, he had no right touching him like that. He should have just admitted his guilt and that's it. The next day when he told his wife what happened between him and his son, he didn't even bother to apologize about the whole incident. All he said to her was that there was no way he was going to tolerate his son talking to him in that manner, that's all. He may have acted out of pure discipline when he struck him like that but unless he was his real father, he had no right hitting him..... period! But...... anyways...... it was a good film overall. I'm a big Alex Rice fan and she was great in it. I liked her Oklahoman accent.... she played her part very well..... and Nathaniel Arcand was excellent as usual too!! But..... ANYWAY..... these are my reasons why I gave this film a 6 out of 10.

I am deeply in love with this film, and each time I watch it I love it even more. I truly look forward to seeing more from its writer/director, Randy Redroad. I fear that, living outside of America, however, I may have trouble finding his work... but I hope this will not be the case!From beginning to end, "The Doe Boy" exudes a powerful, yet non-sensationalistic and understated spirituality that many films would do well to emulate.The story concerns Hunter, a mixed-blooded Cherokee/White young man with haemophilia ("a white man's disease"), and his struggle for identity and for a sense of power over his life. Throughout the film he struggles with a difficult relationship with his father, made worse by Hunter's inability to play sports, to help his father work on his car, or to, as his name suggests, hunt (which is also a favourite pastime of his father). Along the way his grandfather, a full-blood Cherokee, gently assists him by telling him tales of their history and explaining his own way of viewing the world.Hunter's father manages to persuade Hunter's overprotective mother to allow him to take Hunter deer hunting and Hunter, thinking he sees a buck, instead commits the social faux pas of killing a female deer, earning him the nickname of "Doe Boy". Giving away further details may lessen the experience of the first viewing, so I will not describe the other major plot developments that take place in this film, except to say that Hunter is left even more alone and powerless in this world, and calls upon the strength and wisdom of his grandfather to guide him to find the inner strength, courage and self-reliance to take the hand life has dealt him, and to become a true warrior and Cherokee brave.I am still unclear as to the implications of the ending, however that does not make me love this film any less; perhaps the film maker intended to leave the ending somewhat open, given the nature of the events and circumstances that preceded it.Without a doubt, this film - as beautiful, deep and soulful as the warpainted eyes of James Duval as the Cherokee brave of some of the final scenes of the film - is a must-see for any fan of James Duval or of modern, Native American-themed cinema. As a fan of both, I would like to thank both Mr Redroad and all the people who participated in the making of this film, for making available something so beautiful and touching, for the world to experience. I believe that James Duval may well be remembered for the role of Hunter Kirk for the rest of his career. This is a truly beautiful film, which I would very, very highly recommend.

I am a fan of James Duval, ergo the reason I watched the video. It left me hanging in places, particularly the ending. There was no closure. While some have termed it "wholesome" I find the use of four letter words through out the movie less than that. A teen with a disability trying to find himself makes for a good story line, but an 18 year old Indian drinking beer and picking fights is not what I would call "wholesome." And, as a hunter myself, chasing a deer through the forest is absolutely absurd.

Story about an Hemophiliac Indian boy faced with cultural differences within family. Delves into the daily life and how each family member/friend deals with the situation. Good depiction of a typical boy who beats to a different drum. I would define it as dramatic, yet entertaining. Worth adding to your viewing list.