BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE

US, 2007, 133 minutes, Colour.

Aidan Quinn, Adam Beach, Anna Paquin, August Schellenberg, Fred Thompson, Colm Fiore, Gordon Totoosis.

Directed by Yves Simoneau.

This film was produced by Home Box office in 2007, comparatively later in films dealing with history, the 19^th century, Native Americans. In the 70s, there were some feature films which highlighted these themes including Little Big Man and Soldier Blue.

This film is wide in scope, giving some detailed representation of the life of the Native Americans, their fighting amongst themselves, the attack by the military, dispossession of the land, the discovery of gold in Dakota, the building of railroads, the gradual move to reservations, government impositions, treaties and their signing, the government not fulfilling the conditions, growing disillusionment, the defeat of the chiefs, the confining of the tribes to the reservations, the administration of the reservations.

The film shows the military as aggressive, wanting conflict, attempts at negotiations, angry outbursts, shootings, massacres. The film shows the leadership of Red Cloud and his being subdued. It shows the defiance of Sitting Bull (a strong and subtle performance by August Schellenberg), his ultimate humiliation, allusion to his travelling with Bill Cody, eventual subjugation, where there were no chiefs, but every Native American was considered equal.

Representing the government is Aidan Quinn as a sympathetic senator, with the cause of the Native Americans, but with a lot of presuppositions from the white government, the danger of paternalism, and his being caught in negotiations with the government as well as visits to talk with the Native Americans. There are some moments with President Grant, considered the great white chief, who expresses sympathy for the Native Americans.

The other central character is the young boy, part white, part Indian, who was reclaimed by his white father, sent to school, then sent to Illinois to train as a doctor, becoming Charles Eastman, achieving a great deal, often regretting that he did not jump off the train, remembering his symbolic feather that was awarded him after the battle of Little Big Horn. As a doctor, he travels to the reservations, achieves a great deal, writes letters to the government… Accompanying him as his wife, Elaine (Anna Paquin) a teacher.

The film does not shy away from the conflicts between the military and the Native Americans, especially a focus on, with a significant aerial overview, Little Big Horn. And the climax of the film, is a massacre at Wounded Knee, including the killing of Sitting Bull.

The film won 29 awards and had 31 further nominations.

1. The title? The climax of the film at Wounded Knee? Deaths?
2. Audience knowledge and appreciation of the history of Native Americans, the long presence in North America, the tribes, prosperity, conflicts? The arrival of the Europeans? 19^th century greed, military, treaties, Reservations, the Native Americans wanting their traditions, hunting, government edicts? The conflicts with the military? Especially Little Big Horn?
3. The portrait of the Native Americans, their way of life, tribal, the Chief, hunting and survival, dignity?
4. The American government in the 19^th century, the role of Lincoln, his being admired? President Grant in the tradition of the Civil War? His attitude towards the Native Americans? Sympathy, paternal attitudes? Presuppositions about the white settlers, expansion, trade, gold, the railroads? Ownership of the land? The various discussions, treaties, breaking the treaties, imposing of the conditions? The effect on the Native Americans?
5. The focus on Henry Dawes, in conversation with President Grant, the clash with General Sherman and his militaristic attitudes? The Senate, the negotiations, and compassionate man? His white presuppositions? Negotiations, treaties, his visit to the communities, speaking with the chiefs, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull? His patronage of Charles, bringing him east, his education, his achievement, Henry’s pride in him? The communication, Charles going to the Reservation, his plea to Henry? The final meeting, the job of giving Christian names to the Native Americans?
6. The final information at the end, about the treaties, financial compensation instead of land…?
7. The tribes, Red Cloud, his age, those supporting him, the encounters, operation, the tribes having to settle down? Speeches? The agreement? The consequences, Sitting Bull and his disagreement with Red Cloud, Red Cloud and the tribes going to the reservation, the conditions?
8. The contrast with Sitting Bull, his personality, the supreme chief, relationship with the members of the tribe, his son? Resisting the impositions of reservations? Eventually happy to capitulate, his pride, his manner, demanding his rights, his speeches? Eventually having to capitulate? The consequences, the move to Canada, the setting up of the Reservation? His going with Bill Cody, the show, autographs and photos? The greater humiliation? His son in the military?
9. The portrait of the military, aggression, confrontations with the Native Americans, the lineups, discussions, decisions for war? The buildup to Little Big Horn, the aerial view of the battle? The consequences?
10. The focus on the Indian boy, his white father, coming to get him, his place in the tribe, involvement in Little Big Horn, the symbolic feather? His being sent East, his education, the flashbacks to his schooling, his defiance, the teacher wanting him to have a question name, his explanation of taking Charles? His success, Henry presenting him to the public? Elaine and her support?
11. Charles, his success as a doctor, the sponsorship of Henry? The decision to go to the reservation? His work as a doctor, the oppressed Indians, starvation, relying on castor oil? The limited house, no waiting room? His building up the practice, getting on the medicine? His letters to the government, especially about the epidemics and the consequences?
12. Elaine, trained as a teacher, moving to teach the Native Americans? The bond with Charles, supporting him, the marriage?
13. James Mc Laughlin, his appointment, his attitudes, listening to the chiefs, laying down the law for them, his supervision, pride in his achievement? The consequences of his work?
14. The plight of the Native Americans, subservience, not wanting to till the land, wanting to hunt, cattle? The need for handouts, for meet in food? The proposal that they buy the land to prevent the white settlers buying it? Unwillingness, Red Cloud standing up at the end? The consequences of property, derelict, starvation?
15. The buildup to the finale, confrontations, antiwhite man traditions, rituals, government suspicions, military and it Native American confrontations, the beginnings of the shootings, the massacre, Charles and Elaine tending the wounded, hearing the story? And the killing of Sitting Bull?
16. The final information, the work of Charles and Elaine, their family?
17. The final photos of the actors alongside photos of the real characters?