The word play in the
title of the documentary film, "Reel Injun" is rather easy to
decipher–it's about the treatment of American Indians in movies made by
American filmmakers. Directed by Neil Diamond (a Cree Indian, not a
singer), it covers a lot of familiar ground, but seems to show some
optimism for better treatment, and better stories, in the future.
title of the documentary film, "Reel Injun" is rather easy to
decipher–it's about the treatment of American Indians in movies made by
American filmmakers. Directed by Neil Diamond (a Cree Indian, not a
singer), it covers a lot of familiar ground, but seems to show some
optimism for better treatment, and better stories, in the future.
Loaded with some
good clips from old movies, we see such Indians as Burt Lancaster, Elvis
Presley, Burt Reynolds, Dustin Hoffman and Charles Bronson in action,
and we hear Native Americans like Randall Means, Charlie Hill, Adam
Beach and Chris Eyre talk about perception and persecution. There is
humor and sadness, but saddest of all is a clip screened at a school on a
reservation, with Indian children cheering for the cowboys. Triumph and
pride are hand-in-hand as Sacheen Littlefeather refuses Marlon Brando's
Oscar (for "The Godfather") because of Hollywood treatment of Indians.
good clips from old movies, we see such Indians as Burt Lancaster, Elvis
Presley, Burt Reynolds, Dustin Hoffman and Charles Bronson in action,
and we hear Native Americans like Randall Means, Charlie Hill, Adam
Beach and Chris Eyre talk about perception and persecution. There is
humor and sadness, but saddest of all is a clip screened at a school on a
reservation, with Indian children cheering for the cowboys. Triumph and
pride are hand-in-hand as Sacheen Littlefeather refuses Marlon Brando's
Oscar (for "The Godfather") because of Hollywood treatment of Indians.
Crazy Horse, the
side hero of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, receiives several
tributes, and Diamond looks to current movies, heroes and attitudes as
signs of more intelligent and proper responses to another culture.
side hero of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, receiives several
tributes, and Diamond looks to current movies, heroes and attitudes as
signs of more intelligent and proper responses to another culture.
"Reel Injun"
opens today at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.
opens today at Webster University's Winifred Moore Auditorium.
–Joe