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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Wind River

Wind River

1 rating: 3.0

A movie directed by Tom Shell

In 1854 Wyoming, the wife of a powerful Shoshone Indian chief has a vision that a blonde child will save her daughter. Responding to his wife's vision, the chief kidnaps Nicholas, a young white settler who fits the description of the boy in his wife's … see full wiki

Tags: Movies, Westerns, Western Movies

Cast: Russell Means

Director: Tom Shell

Release Date: 1998

MPAA Rating: PG-13

1 review about Wind River

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Wind River ~ the sounds of silence

May 15, 2003

by SusiDee34
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

Pros: Wes Studi - A+; the entire story - A+

Cons: I found no fault

The Bottom Line: .....

This is based on a true account in history. I am not giving away anything that hasn’t been documented before me. The story is still a wonderful story and should be seen.

Elijah Nichols Wilson was born in 1845, he died in 1916 in Wilson, Wyoming.
When Anuba, tribal mother, has a vision, she sends scouts out to find the ‘yellow hair’ boy that will serve a part to save their people. What part he will serve, neither she nor he knows, but when the time comes all will realize this was meant to be – fate.

Powerful Moragoni finds the ‘yellow hair’, a headstrong 9 year old boy disgruntled with his family, who is running away from home. Nick Wilson is that boy and Wind River is the story of his life.

When Moragoni returns to the tribe, with Nick by his side, he takes it upon himself to show the white boy the ways of the Shoshone Indian. He becomes his fast friend, confidante, and mentor. Tribal chief, Washakie, and tribal mother Anuba, take Nick into their tee-pee and their family, waiting for the day to arrive that was his destiny.

Many times Nick dreams of home, missing his mother but not necessarily his brothers whom he always butted heads with. Oddly enough, his biggest opponent, brother Sylvester, becomes his most stalwart saviour, never giving up hope that Nick is alive and that he will find him.

Life continues on in Wind River, a most beautiful place. Nick’s opportunity finally comes into play, as do many other opportunities in his life. Many changes are made, problems addressed, questions answered. Nick finally returns to his people and at age 15 became part of the Pony Express Service.

This was adapted from the novel “The White Indian Boy” by Elizabeth Hansen and directed by Tom Shell. It stars Blake Heron as Nick Wilson in an excellent role. His sensitivity and adaptation throughout the movie makes it worth watching. Moragoni was played by A Martinez, which I find quite interesting. He looked enough like the part of a Native American, but I found his speech patterns just wrong. In fact, I am always slightly aggravated at the portrayal of Native American/White American speech in any movie.

The Native Americans always speak in a slow and slightly ‘dim’ way, as if speech is a new and foreign concept for them. I do understand about learning a new language, however their own speech patterns are never present. Instead, they quickly adapt the English language with little or no nuance to their own former inflection. They seldom mispronounce anything, simply stutter along until ‘ POOF’ they are adept in the English language. Damn that aggravates me, sorry for the mini rant.

Russell Means and Patricia Van Ingen played Washakie & Anuba respectively. Great acting and a decent portrayal. I actually got the impression they were Native American. The opposing Shoeshone brave, Pocatello, was Wes Studi. An outstanding and remarkable performance! Always butting heads against Moragoni and the tribe, he was just wonderful in this production.

Finally, Karen Allen played the part of the mother, Martha, of Nick Wilson and Devon Gummersall was his brother Sylvester. Both played great parts and pulled a lot of heart into the story. In fact, Sylvester’s determination was the heart of the story.

I particularly liked the detail played to the roles of the different levels of Native Americans and the rituals they follow. Some of the filming was just beautiful with the backlit scenes, fires blazing, deep commitment to fellow man. This is a beautiful story.

I truly believe you would enjoy this movie, kinda a western but where the Indians are not bad guys and there is little violence. One or two scenes but nothing like “Soldier Blue”.

Thanks,
Susi
p.s. HEY – ARE YOU IN OUR WRITE-OFF YET? DIANE [SURGRN911] AND I ARE HOSTING A WRITE-OFF ‘BRING A BUDDY TO THE MOVIES’. EMAIL A BUDDY AND INVITE THEM TO VIEW THE SAME MOVIE YOU ARE, SEE MY PROFILE PAGE FOR DETAILS AND FOR THE LIST OF THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN THE PLUNGE SO FAR.

PPSS - Thanks Shannon for getting this movie added for me

Recommended:
Yes

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