~DANCES WITH WOLVES~
is a beautiful, moving film about the closing of the American frontier and all that disappeared with it.
Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is granted his wish when he is sent to
tiny, ramshackle Ft. Sedgwick. Alone in the middle of the
prairie, his first visitor is a curious wolf he names Two Socks,
who is both a bridge to the untamed nature that Dunbar seeks to
explore and a metaphor for Dunbar himself -- he's not a
conquering white man, just an inquisitive one. So it's fitting
that the Sioux tribe he befriends bestows him with the name
Dances With Wolves after watching him run and play with Two
Socks.
Dunbar's initial encounters with the Sioux show him that they're
very like him -- the warrior Wind In His Hair (Rodney A. Grant)
is all bravado at first, yelling at Dunbar that he's not afraid
of him; the holy man Kicking Bird (Graham Greene) is thoughtful,
genuinely interested in communicating with this strange stranger.
Indeed, DANCES WITH WOLVES is notable for its unstereotypical,
realistic depiction of Indians as human beings, people who are
sometimes gentle, sometimes savage, and always worthy of respect,
just like the rest of us. Dunbar finds another bridge to the new
world he is looking for in Stands With A Fist (Mary McDonnell), a
white woman adopted as a girl by the Sioux after her family was
massacred by Pawnee. His leaving behind of his old life is marked
twice in a single moment: His realization that he loves Stands
With A Fist occurs simultaneously with Two Socks daring to eat
from his hand for the first time.
Dunbar embodies all the best qualities that exemplify America:
self-reliance, intelligence, a thirst for exploration, respect
for nature, and innate friendliness. When Dunbar rides out alone,
in full dress uniform and bearing the Stars and Stripes, to
formally introduce himself to his Sioux neighbors, it's an
astounding demonstration of the best kind of American audacity.
But contrast that with the arrival of more U.S. soldiers at Fort
Sedgwick, long abandoned by Dunbar, bringing with them the worst
of America: small-minded cruelty. When these troops set out after
the traitorous" Dunbar and his adoptive Sioux friends,
the flag they bear represents only violence and revenge.
DANCES WITH WOLVES is one of the most visually and emotionally
stunning movies I've ever seen, a glimmer of another world where
less might have been lost if more people had been as open and
friendly as John Dunbar. From John Barry's stirring score -- I
swear I can hear the prairie grass blowing in the wind in the
music -- to director/producer Costner's daring presentation of a
huge chunk of the movie in the beautiful Sioux Lakota language
(with subtitles), this is a majestic requiem for a world that is
gone.
Lieutenant
John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) at his post
To my opinion
here starts the best part of the movie.
It's just great
to see how they first meet and react.
AND HOW THEIR
FRIENDSHIP GROWS.
Kicking Bird
(Graham Greene)
He was the first
indian John Dunbar met when
he came to Fort
Sedgewick.
Wind In His
Hair (Rodney A. Grant)
At first Wind In
His Hair wasn't very fond of John Dunbar.
Later when they
both learned to know each other
they became
great friends.
Rodney A. Grant
A Great man and
actor
Wind In His
Hair and Kicking Bird
First moment
they really try to communicate. Here you see Kicking Bird
understand what
John Dunbar is trying to say.
A big head with
horns can only mean one thing.......!
ENJOYING THE
VIEW
Almost ready for
the hunt. These days you don't see these beautiful
animals in
freedom. The only time an indian killed a buffalo was when he
needed food for
his family. He never killed more then he needed
because he
respects all living things.
The Wedding
See how
wonderful Stands With A Fist is dressed.
She (Mary
McDonnell) played a very convinced role
as John Dunbar's
wife.
A very touchy
moment in the movie.
FAREWELL MY
FRIEND
Saying goodbye
to a friend is never easy
especially when
you both came that far and
had no choice
but leaving.
Leaving the
people they love.
The movie has a
sad ending. But in a way it's a good ending
because NOW many
people started thinking about how the
American Indian
has been treated for such a long time.
2006 - 2007Richard's Creations
