The Grandfathers

From Sacrifice to Reconciliation, a Young Man Discovers His Heritage in The Grandfathers

The Grandfathers showcases both the burden and benefit of the Saint family’s legacy. Jesse Saint, Steve’s oldest son and Nate’s grandson, was not raised among the tribe like his father. He struggles to find his place under the weight of the memory of a famous grandfather he never knew and a heroic father he does not fully understand. This will all change after Jesse travels to the jungles of Ecuador with his family and gradually forms a special bond with Mincaye, one of the tribesmen who took part in his grandfather’s murder. Only then will he confront his family’s past and come to terms with his own destiny. And there he will find his place in this story.

The Grandfathers chronicles the personal quest for greater connectedness and significance. It is also a moving tribute to ordinary people living extraordinary lives in extreme situations. Jim Hanon, the film’s director, states, “Forgiveness is an awe-inspiring virtue that seems to have been passed on by the Saint family and is shared by many among the Waodani tribe—both demonstrate a profound capacity for forgiveness and healthy self-healing.”

Steve Saint consulted with Jim Hanon and Mart Green, EGM’s producer,  to help bring the story of his father, Nate, to screen through the feature film End of the Spear and the companion documentary film Beyond the Gates of Splendor.These films trace events leading up to and including the deaths of these men. More than that, they show the impact these events played on the lives of both their survivors and their killers. When the widows and their children went to live among the Waodani—a tribe regarded as the most violent on earth—they became an integral part of an incredible redemptive journey.

The Grandfathers, completes a trilogy produced by EthnoGraphic Media (EGM)that includes End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor. These first two films, also from award-winning director Jim Hanon and producer Mart Green, tell the unforgettable and inspiring story of the killing of five missionaries by a stone-age tribe deep in the Amazon jungle. The impact of this tragic event lives on today in families of these slain men as well as among those responsible for their deaths.



My Review:


We have owned The End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor for a couple of years now. My husband watched them and liked them. I still haven't watched them. After watching The Grandfathers, however, I will be watching them sometime in the near future.

You don't have to have seen the first two movies to enjoy this one.

There are funny moments, happy moments along with sad and tearful moments in The Grandfathers. I also learned a lot about the Waodani tribe. I found the fact that the parents never tell the kids what to do very interesting. They let the kids learn everything the hard way. Something I don't think I could do with my own kids.

I love biographies, and The Grandfathers is like a biography. Lest you think it's boring, this is a very interesting movie, it held the attention of my whole family. From my husband all the way down the the 10 year old.

Be forewarned, however, they do talk about murder, people getting stabbed with spears, and a young American woman dies. There is no violence shown, just discussed.  Just some things to be aware of if your watching with young children.

I loved and highly recommend The Grandfathers.







*Disclaimer: I received this DVD free from B & B Media Group. I received no other compensation. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”