Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Solid female-led thriller has strong violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sayen
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SAYEN, (Rallen Montenegro), a Mapuche young woman, returns to her village in the region of La Araucanía after spending time in the city completing her studies. When her grandmother (Teresa Ramos) is murdered by a White Spaniard who leads a conglomerate trying to take over her land in order to exploit it for cobalt, Sayen wages war on the culprits and seeks to avenge her grandmother and protect her people.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of the complex leading ladies from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Mad Max: Fury Road will be in for a treat with the addition of the first Mapuche action heroine. With Sayen, named after the title character played by a phenomenal Rallen Montenegro, Chilean director Alexander Witt has turned the South American country into a promising source of action films with refreshing twists.
In Sayen, Witt combines the eco-thriller with a story that pays tribute to the Mapuche people who have lived in oppressive conditions for centuries. But rather than exploring colonialism and racism through a didactic lens, or setting up a White savior narrative, Witt gives his leading lady the opportunity to show an Indigenous woman should not be bound by the limited imagination of the patriarchal system, turning Sayen into a heroine for the ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of respecting nature. Why is Sayen's grandmother so keen on protecting the forest?
Did you know about the Mapuche people? Did the film make you curious about their history and cultural practices? Where could you go to learn more?
What character strengths do Sayen and Grandma Ilwen demonstrate?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 3, 2023
- Cast : Rallen Montenegro , Arón Piper , Loreto Aravena , Teresa Ramos
- Director : Alexander Witt
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Amazon
- Genre : Thriller
- Character Strengths : Integrity , Teamwork
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 18, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate