The Education of Little Tree (1997): Cast, Box Office & Plot
The Education of Little Tree is a 1997 family drama directed by Richard Friedenberg, starring Joseph Ashton as Little Tree, James Cromwell and Tantoo Cardinal. It runs 1 hour 55 minutes and earned $323,411 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 55m (115 min)
- Director
- Richard Friedenberg
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Allied Filmmakers
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Education of Little Tree About?
The premise of The Education of Little Tree without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Eight‑year‑old Little Tree, a Cherokee boy orphaned during the Great Depression, is taken in by his Indian grandmother and grandfather. Caught between his Native heritage and the surrounding white world, he must navigate loss, adapt to his new family, and absorb the timeless wisdom of Cherokee traditions while discovering his own identity.
The Education of Little Tree Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- impostor
- white supremacy
- store
- great depression
- racism
- redneck
- grandfather grandson relationship
- grandmother grandson relationship
- indian boarding school
- log cabin
- interracial marriage
- hunting dog
+38 more Show fewer
- hound dog
- appalachia
- sunrise
- falcon
- nature
- whiskey
- moonshiner
- deer
- dead animal
- frog
- pet frog
- frog in pocket
- frog croaking
- boy wearing overalls
- frog in boy pocket
- boy
- 8 year old
- 8 year old boy
- indian boy
- shoes
- dog
- moonshine still
- jar
- jar of moonshine
- education system
- moccasin
- boy wears a moccasin
- barefoot girl
- loss of parents
- cemetery
- loss of mother
- loss of father
- church service
- hair cut
- boy gets his hair shaved off
- boy shower scene
- shower
- bare chested boy
The Education of Little Tree Cast & Characters
Joseph Ashton leads the cast as Little Tree, with James Cromwell as Nonno and Tantoo Cardinal as Nonna. Directed by Richard Friedenberg; 5 actors are credited in all.
- Director Richard Friedenberg
- Joseph Ashton as Little Tree
-
James Cromwell as Nonno - Tantoo Cardinal as Nonna
-
Graham Greene as Willow John
Also Starring in The Education of Little Tree
· 1 more- Christopher Heyerdahl Pine Billy
More from Richard Friedenberg
More films directed by Richard Friedenberg: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas, Twelve Mile Road, Snow in August and Mr. and Mrs. Loving.
The Education of Little Tree Plot Summary
What happens in The Education of Little Tree from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set in the 1930s, the eight-year-old boy given the Native American name “Little Tree” Joseph Ashton is raised by his mother, who was widowed by war, until she dies of illness and leaves him an orphan. When his white mother’s sister comes to take him away, his paternal grandfather Nonno James Cromwell and grandmother Nonna Tantoo Cardinal arrive to shield him and bring him to live with them in the shadowed valleys and peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains. Here, Little Tree begins a life steeped in family tradition, where the land itself is a teacher and every day offers a chance to honor those who came before him.
Full summary
The whole story of The Education of Little Tree, scene by scene
The Education of Little Tree Box Office
The Education of Little Tree grossed $323,411 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$323.4K
- US & Canada
- $323.4K
The Education of Little Tree Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Education of Little Tree.
How Well Do You Know The Education of Little Tree?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which decade is the story set?
Cars in The Education of Little Tree
12 cars on screen, including the 1934 Buick unknown and the 1926 Ford Model T.
-
1934 Buick unknown Minor role -
1926 Ford Model T Minor role -
unknown Minor role -
White Model 706 Minor role
Seen The Education of Little Tree?
Movies Like The Education of Little Tree
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Learning Tree, My Sweet Orange Tree and The Tree.
The Education of Little Tree FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Education of Little Tree, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Education of Little Tree?
The Education of Little Tree runs 1 hour 55 minutes (115 minutes).
When was The Education of Little Tree released?
The Education of Little Tree was released on December 25, 1997.
Who directed The Education of Little Tree?
The Education of Little Tree was directed by Richard Friedenberg.
More films by Richard Friedenberg Who is in the cast of The Education of Little Tree?
The Education of Little Tree stars Joseph Ashton as Little Tree, James Cromwell as Nonno and Tantoo Cardinal as Nonna, among 5 credited actors.
How much did The Education of Little Tree make at the box office?
The Education of Little Tree grossed $323,411 worldwide.
Does The Education of Little Tree have a post-credit scene?
No. The Education of Little Tree has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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