Fierce People (2006) R - 3 Stars

16 year old Finn Earl (Anton Yelchin), has never met his father, the great archaeologist from South America who's been studying the tribe of the Ishkanani . Finn writes to his father and views tapes of the Ishkanani people who have never had contact with the outside world before. He yearns to accept the invitation to spend the summer with his dad and learn more about these primitive people. For now, he lives with his mother Liz (Diane Lane), in Manhattan along with her alcoholic and drug problem.

His mom, a masseuse, has a bit of a cocaine habit and when Finn is arrested for possession of her drugs, Finn's plans to finally meet his dad are canceled. Liz also realizes she can't go on like this anymore and she excepts an offer of rehab from a wealthy old client and friend, Ogden C. Osbourne (Donald Sutherland). Finn will get to meet a tribe after all consisting of these wealthy posh snobs who reside on a 10 mile radius parcel of land.

Once they arrive, they are treated like outsiders and the hired help until of course Osbourne delivers Liz to his elegant manor. It is here the two will take up residency as he and his mother, try to regain their love. Finn becomes involved with Osborne's daughter Maya (Kristen Stewart) and her older brother Bryce Langley (Chris Evans). Finn immediately sees the correlation between the tribe of South America and this tribe of the Osbournes. The way he sees it, the Ishkanani people either love something or kill it and it is no different for this Osbournes and their back stabbing tendencies. Osbourne identifies with Finn and takes him under his wing which causes rage and jealousy amongst the kingdom and eventually Osbourne's death. But he has also taught Finn that something good comes out of something bad, which gives Finn and his mom and fresh start on life. "We are the sum of all people we've ever met. You change the tribe and the tribe changes you."

Lions Gate Films
Director: Griffin Dunne
Writer: Dirk Wittenborn
Producers: Nick Wechsler, Griffin Dunne, Keith Addis

I viewed 6/08