My top 5 favorite Native American films
Posted on April 25th, 2010 by admin
As a follow-up to my Native issues series I thought it would be fun to talk about my top 5 favorite Native acted, produced, written, or directed films (many all or most of the above). Most of these are Independent films, so may be difficult to find but PLEASE try to!
#5 Medicine River (1993)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107539/
This movie is about a photo journalist (Graham Greene) who is enigmatically called back to the reservation by a message from his brother. He is extremely successful and world famous and has not been back home since leaving for college. This is a comedy as we view rez life from the viewpoint of someone who has forgotten the different pace he grew up around. Many people I know didn’t like this movie, but it is one of my favorites. You have to immerse in the film and let the film’s internal pace, humor, and logic flow.
If I could have chosen a clip to show it would have been when Harlen (Tom Jackson) is trying to explain to Will (Greene) why the tribe spent the money they received to buy a van for the elders on photo equipment. He explains the photo equipment is so Will can take photos of the elders to make a calendar. The calendar is to be sold and the money used to buy new uniforms for the basketball team. With new jerseys the team is sure to win the championship and the cash from that will buy a van for the elders. Will asks why they just didn’t buy the van in the first place. “How’s that going to help the team win the championship?” Harlen asks in return. (I may have the order incorrect, been awhile!)
#4 Dreamkeeper (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309150/
A Hallmark channel story about a grandfather (August Schellenberg) being driven to a powwow by his grandson Shane (Eddie Spears). Along the way they encounter hardships and the grandfather fills the void with a collection of stories from all over North America. The stories are illustrated using cgi and incredible sets that really bring these to life.
#3 Dance Me Outside (1994)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109529/
A really great movie, both comic and tragic. It is the story of two friends Silas and Frank (Ryan Rajendra Black and Adam Beach) growing up on a reservation in Ontario. The cast of extras are amazing, despite being mainly actual locals from Parry Island (Wasauksing First Nation).
#2 Clearcut (1991)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101592/
What a movie! This is intense, often horrifying and tragic. The movie is about a white lawyer named Peter MacGuire (Ron Lea) who travels to an Ojibwe reservation following a major land-use loss of the tribe to a pulp mill. There he meets Arthur (Graham Greene) and the pulp mill owner Bud (Michael Hogan). Arthur kidnaps Bud and Peter, with the intention of skinning Bud alive as revenge (see my clip to see why this threat is so chilling!). The movie is based on the book A Dream Like Mine by MT Kelly. I recommend reading the book and seeing the movie, as they both contain unique information and help answer some questions. Who is Arthur? Is he human, or the personification of revenge? Is he Peter’s anger and rage taking the form of an avenging spirit or just a psychopath? This movie needs to be seen!
#1 The Business of Fancydancing (2002)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303313/
Where to begin? I love this movie, everything about it. This is a semi-autobiographical story written and directed by the great Sherman Alexie. It is the story of a famous gay Native writer who returns to the Spokane reservation for a friend’s funeral. In the days before and during he faces a number of issues. Should he bring his white boyfriend? Should he go at all? Are the stories and experiences that he writes really his to write about or did he ’steal’ from others? The story is interrupted by scenes of his childhood and leaving, scenes of life going on the rez after he left, and scenes of his life as a world-famous writer. Throughout are clips of Alexie’s powerful poetry.
I want to mention a few other movies I really like that did not make my top 5 list. I like these movies a great deal. They are:
War Party (1988) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098619/
Smoke Signals (1998) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120321/
Thunderheart (1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105585/ (I know, not the same as the others but I like it anyhow!)
Duration : 0:9:56
[youtube zv2YmRQwHes]
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
That Jimmie …
That Jimmie Kewakundo is gay too I know a male friend the had him around 2009 Gay Parade week….another Ricky Martin.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Their is a actor …
Their is a actor named Jimmie Kewakundo he is from Sasauksing.
Too bad he turned into a drunk and he got accused of trying to molest one of his kids.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
When I am asked for …
When I am asked for the title of some of my favorite videos, Smoke Signals is always one of the first mentioned, not because it is one of my favorite Native American videos but because the video makes the viewer think about life and relationships differently than the self-interest movies produced by Big Business does. To clarify, the moral of the story of Smoke Signals is one I would recommend everyone learn from. Also, do some book reviews. I need some reputable reviews on my PlayList. Thanks.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
i like apacalypto
i like apacalypto
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Thanks for making …
Thanks for making that point!
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Just wanting to …
Just wanting to make sure its noted that Medicine River is Canadian and about Canadian people, who are not refered to as Native Americans, but as First Nations or Aborigonals. But props on mentioning Canadian content in your video.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Dammit! I need to …
Dammit! I need to watch it ASAP for a module I am doing.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I bought it on VHS …
I bought it on VHS some time ago, but to the best of my knowledge is not available on DVD. It is a shame because it is a great movie!
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Where can I watch …
Where can I watch Medicine River?
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Holy shmokes you …
Holy shmokes you are right! I seriously was told that somewhere, and never bothered to verify. I will add an annotation and apology. Thanks for letting me know!
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Aaron, Sherman is …
Aaron, Sherman is married to Diane Tomhave, and he has also said before that he is in fact not gay. Thanks for the reviews.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
hehe, we have a vhs …
hehe, we have a vhs, but it doesn’t work. I’ll check out YT and dailymotion… have a couple other places I can check as well.
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
If you can play VHS …
If you can play VHS you may better luck finding some of these – Medicine River and Clearcut are not available on DVD as far as I know (although the latter can be watched in 9 parts here on YT!)
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Thanks!
Thanks!
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I have never seen …
I have never seen any of these of these movies. I”ll have to see if I can find them somewhere around here… or check amazon
Thanks for the review… was great!
April 25th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
That was quite nice.
That was quite nice.