As we put away the fireworks and hot dogs from our July 4th celebrations, we should remember who we took this country from as we won our hard-fought independence. It’s a tough thing to be a proud citizen of the US while still trying to come to terms with the fact that we fought that war not only against our oppressors, but also against people that we oppressed.
A few months ago I saw a documentary called Reel Injun (2009). It’s about the portrayal of Native Americans on the big screen through the eyes of themselves and white people.
Here are some of the best of those films…not all of them necessarily starring Natives as Natives, but we’ll get into that.
And no, Johnny Depp as Tonto didn’t make the cut.
SMOKE SIGNALS (1998)
Directed by Chris Eyre
Written by Sherman Alexie
Based on a novel by Sherman Alexie
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a reservation Indian, watch Smoke Signals. I mean…I have no idea what it’s like, but I’ve been told and I can imagine that it’s exactly like Smoke Signals. It’s about a guy named Victor (Adam Beach) who finds out that his estranged father has died. He and his nerdy friend Thomas (Evan Adams) drive to Phoenix to visit the woman he was with and bring him back home. It’s also about storytelling, tradition, perspective and, of course, being a Native American in the modern world. Thomas is the narrator and tells many stories throughout the film. Is he telling the truth? Are his stories just stories? The movie really says that it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the story.
As great as all of the movies on this list are, this is the most universal. It doesn’t depend on time periods or special effects or any other conceit. It only depends on the story of two friends finding their common ground. The fact that they’re Native American runs throughout the film in many different ways, but it only asks that you be human to understand it.
LITTLE BIG MAN (1970)
Directed by Arthur Penn
Written by Calder Willingham
Based on a novel by Thomas Berger
Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) is a very old man. But as a younger man, he was raised by Indians and worked with Custer at Little Big Horn. There were plenty of adventures in between, but we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to talk about Old Lodge Skins (Chief Dan George, also great in The Outlaw Josey Wales).
You see, Old Lodge Skins is not always right. In fact, he’s rarely right. He says lots of mystical things that are meant to lead Jack down the right path, but he’s actually kind of a fool…but never in a demeaning way. It’s as if he took a shortcut through all of the spiritual aspects of Native American life. He’s got the words down, but he doesn’t get the results. Still, he manages to be awesome, foolish and dignified all at the same time. It’s definitely a dance and Chief Dan George dances it like a pro.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Little Big Man, but Old Lodge Skins is one of the most memorable parts of this great film.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST (1975)
Directed by Milos Forman
Written by Lawrence Hauben/Bo Goldman
Based on a novel by Ken Kesey and a play by Dale Wasserman
We all know that Cuckoo’s Nest is all about RP McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) and his struggle to remain an individual amongst the crazies at the asylum. His battles with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) are funny, scary, epic and heartbreaking. But none of it would have been possible without Chief (Will Sampson).
Chief is the stereotypical “stoic Indian” for most of the film, but ends up being the backbone of the whole film. He’s also one of the best depictions of a Native American on screen. No, his Nativeness doesn’t come into play very much, but it informs everything that he is. Will Sampson was better than you remember.
Watch this movie again to learn about pride and freedom.
ATANARJUAT: THE FAST RUNNER (2001)
Directed by Zacharias Kunuk
Written by Paul Apak Angilirq/Norman Cohn/Zacharias Kunuk/Herve Paniaq/Pauloosie Qulitalik
When The Fast Runner came out, I didn’t know hardly anything about it except that it was an indie darling that everyone fell in love with as soon as they saw it…but only a handful of people outside of the critic’s world really saw it. That’s a shame, because it’s one of the best depictions of Native Americans ever put on film and one of the very few depictions of the Alaskan/Canadian Inuits.
It tells the mythical story of a man who falls in love with a young lady. Her sister, unfortunately, is also in love with the man, so she comes between him and his brother. Horrible havoc and revenge is wreaked. And then the titular run.
Long though it may be (at nearly three hours), The Fast Runner is worth every minute. It’s not only an interesting story with great characters, but it’s a great history lesson about people that no one really knows anything about anymore.
THE SEARCHERS (1956)
Directed by John Ford
Written by Frank S Nugent
Based on a novel by Alan Le May
The Searchers has become quite possibly the most misunderstood Western of all time.
So many people fully believe that it’s a racist film where John Wayne’s Ethan Edwards is the hero. While Ethan does some heroic things, he’s also called out as a racist throughout the film, mostly by the younger generation, personified by Martin (played by the young Captain Pike himself, Jeffrey Hunter). When Ethan’s niece (Natalie Wood) is kidnapped by Indians, Ethan, Martin and a crew of other Western vets go on the search…for years. Since Martin is 1/8 Indian, Ethan can’t take him seriously. He also never seems to be clear as to whether he wants to rescue or kill his niece.
It’s really a shame that, even though The Searchers is very often called the “best Western ever made,” it’s also considered…well, less than complementary towards Native Americans. Yes, the Indian Chief is played by a German guy (Henry Brandon). That, unfortunately, was the times. The movie itself, outside of the casting, is incredibly anti-racism.
It’s a great film and one of the great performances by The Duke as a none too likable guy.
