Reviews

Dances With Wolves is a great epic Western with strong supporting roles. The message, that there are sympathetic Indians, is nothing new, however. But much of the story stems from the Romantic tradition in literature, with a white hero removed (and fed up with) civilization and the indigenous people the "children of nature." Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote about it, and Dances With Wolves follows through with many of his themes.

Speaking about writing, an excellent interview with screenwriter Michael Blake appears in "Making the White Man's Indian: Native Americans and Hollywood Movies." (Praeger, 2005) The book contains many behind-the-screen anecdotes about Indians in Hollywood.

This movie offered a different perspective of the Sioux, and although controversial, it is worth a view. Director Elliot Silverstein doesn't glamorize the Indians and he doesn't make them victims of white injustice. He just tells it like it is, and I have to admire him for it. Many activists protested what they believed to be inaccuracies; nonetheless, the film is the other side of "Dances With Wolves" (really, it's more like "Run of the Arrow"). For an in-depth interview with Silverstein and the making of "A Man Called Horse," read "Making the White Man's Indian: Native Americns and Hollywood Movies." It's a great behind-the-scenes read of this and other popular Western pictures.

I've been watching this series since it began, and it really gives both sides of the picture. The performances of Native American actors, especially Irene Bedard (Pocahontas' voice) are solid. The other characters are significant but less impressive. The locations are scenic, and the camera work is sharp as well.

I would recommend as a supplement a recent book, "Making the White Man's Indian: Native Americnas and Hollywood Movies." The book covers 100 years of Indians in the movies and gives many behind-the-scenes stories. If you're interested in the subject and like movies about Native Americans, watch the series and check out this book.