British screenwriter Steven Wright and British director Susanna White hold the mirror up to American history with this moving exploration of Native American abuse - a film that is most appropriate during this time of reevaluating racism.
The story is based on fact and made even more dramatic by enhancing the tale with a romantic eye. Fact: Caroline Weldon was a Swiss-American artist and activist with the National Indian Defense Association whom became a confidant and personal secretary to the Lakota Sioux Indian leader Sitting Bull during the time when Plains Indians had adopted the ghost Dance movement - 1889 - 1890. From that slice of history the film unveils a solid story.
Altering the first name of the character, 'Catherine' Weldon (Jessica Chastain) leaves New York and travels to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the Dakotas, her goal: to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes). Her mission is a struggle due to the interference of the military - Col. Silas Groves (Sam Rockwell) and the Indian Agent James McLaughlin (Ciarán Hinds). But with the help of Indian Chaska (Chaske Spencer) she meets Sitting Bull, learns about the Lakota language, is given the name 'Woman Walks Ahead' and eventually paints Sitting Bull's portrait as they bond and learn to trust each other. Catherine aids Sitting Bull in rejecting the grossly unjust expropriation of Indian lands (and rations!) by the government only to witness the Wounded Knee massacre.
The actors are excellent and the cinematography is magnificent. For some reason the very long passages of Lakota language are not supported by subtitles: some feel this is to honor a Native tongue, but the information shared in that language is not explained to the viewer. The film is compelling and offers yet another examination of American history of which we must not be proud: it is very important for all of us to know the message and to share it with children and young adults who may have missed this potion of history
The story is based on fact and made even more dramatic by enhancing the tale with a romantic eye. Fact: Caroline Weldon was a Swiss-American artist and activist with the National Indian Defense Association whom became a confidant and personal secretary to the Lakota Sioux Indian leader Sitting Bull during the time when Plains Indians had adopted the ghost Dance movement - 1889 - 1890. From that slice of history the film unveils a solid story.
Altering the first name of the character, 'Catherine' Weldon (Jessica Chastain) leaves New York and travels to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in the Dakotas, her goal: to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull (Michael Greyeyes). Her mission is a struggle due to the interference of the military - Col. Silas Groves (Sam Rockwell) and the Indian Agent James McLaughlin (Ciarán Hinds). But with the help of Indian Chaska (Chaske Spencer) she meets Sitting Bull, learns about the Lakota language, is given the name 'Woman Walks Ahead' and eventually paints Sitting Bull's portrait as they bond and learn to trust each other. Catherine aids Sitting Bull in rejecting the grossly unjust expropriation of Indian lands (and rations!) by the government only to witness the Wounded Knee massacre.
The actors are excellent and the cinematography is magnificent. For some reason the very long passages of Lakota language are not supported by subtitles: some feel this is to honor a Native tongue, but the information shared in that language is not explained to the viewer. The film is compelling and offers yet another examination of American history of which we must not be proud: it is very important for all of us to know the message and to share it with children and young adults who may have missed this potion of history