CharlieR
  Junior Member

After purchasing a DVD of the movie, I wondered how accurate its portrayal is. The movie intertwines the lives of Henry Dawes and Charles Eastman. Looking for biography of Charles Eastman, I find no mention of Henry Dawes, and a life that is significantly different than shown in the movie. Among other things, Charles Eastman was raised among Santee in Canada, not among the Lakota in the Powder River Country. And, when I search for references to Charles Eastman and Henry Dawes, I find only discussion of the movie -- suggesting that only in the movie script were their lives closely intertwined. The movie also falls far short of exemplifying the book. To be fair, being true to Dee Brown's writing would require at least a year of weekly episodes -- its far too much for one 90-180 minute drama. Eastman's portrayal in the movie seems to be what 21st century culture would like to find, rather than who and what Eastman's life really was. It was still an inspiring life, but far more complex. We need to come to terms with history in all its complexity, and, we need movies that try to be true to the facts, rather than offering a script writer's fantasy. more »