film "The Windwalker" ---a native American story
MOVIES
“Windwalker” is a strange movie. It stars British actor Trevor Howard as the title character, an aging American Native Cheyenne. Earlier he is portrayed by Nick Ramus. The film is told in flashbacks from the deathbed of the Windwalker as he tells his life story to his grandchildren.
One thing that comes across clearly in the movie is the conflict between native American tribes; the Crow versus the Cheyenne is part of this story. It’s easy to forget the American Indians often battled between themselves, stealing from each other.
Wind walker recounts his times with beautiful Tashima, the birth of their twins, the kidnaping of one of the twins, the eventual reuniting of father and son at a moment of crisis.
Much beautiful scenery here, snow on the mountains, dust on the plains. Much seems to be totally authentic (it got highest marks from the American Anthropological Association), the Indians neither glamorized not patronized.
Howard is a strange pick for the lead role, but he handles it deftly and convincingly. The cast, mostly of American Indians, is solid and appropriate. This is a an excellent film for family viewing, sure to raised questions from the kids that adults may have a hard time answering, It’s rated PG. It’s available at the Carson Library.