I'm so bummed that this movie isn't more widely known. I saw it in the theater 3 yrs ago and it's haunted me ever since. Thanks for a wonderful examination of how it fits in a genre that it probably wouldn't typically be thought of. Looking forward to some of your other vids!
One aspect of this movie that I thoroughly enjoy is the dedication to shoot outside. I love seeing the natural plumes of breath, knowing they're filming on location, not a sound stage. Of course, the writing and acting is all first rate, too. In my top ten.
Heartbreaking when the father admits he doesn't know what the face paint means for his daughter's death. He just feels he has to make some connection to his ancestors and identity. The gunfight at the end is sort of a noble, traditional "western" shootout, until the Automatic rifle mows everyone down with ease. Great video essay. Well done.
My ancestors are Shoshoni. I lived for two years with the Navajo, and speak the Navajo language. This film greatly moved me. I don't think it's possible to not be impressed by the powerful performances. However, I'm concerned about how America's 'Indian history' is portrayed and how America is viewed through the eyes of the modern, low-information viewer. If you believe that our past is as painted and portrayed by such 'historians' as Howard Zinn and his Peoples' History of the United States you are being misled. Woefully. I've lived all over the world, and speak several languages. More so, as a former US Diplomat, I've live and studied the histories of the world's continents, peoples, wars, and conquests. The history of the world is the history of displacement, death, starvation, and universal slavery. But it is also the history of cooperation and even, at times, compassion. In truth, America's 'sins' are universal in the world. What's unique are America's virtues. To state that 'America was built upon violence,' as is too often said, is simplistic. In many cases, both my Anglo and my Shoshoni ancestors, worked together and cooperated in order to survive. A very many, like Jeremy Renner's character, intermarried. Simply, European-Americans could not have survived their move west without learning from the Natives and in many cases, cooperating as friends and allies. While there was killing, even murder, there was also teaming up, even occasionally mutual compassion shown. That has always been the case, in every land. In American Indian history, the Navajos, and Apaches (both from the same racial/linguistic roots) immigrated from what would become Canada and forced their way onto Pueblo lands of the Southwest. They were strong. They were warlike. And they survived, at the expense of Pueblo tribes. The Navajos were infamous for raiding the neighboring Utes for slaves. As well, the Shoshoni splinter group that became the Comanches, rolled through the western plains from what would become Wyoming south into what would become Texas, displacing several weaker tribes, even wiping some out. Such tragedies could be cited over and over again, in America, and on literally EVERY continent on earth, throughout history. That's the reality. What's amazing, and unique, is that ANY so-called American Indians even exist at all in the United States today. History, on every continent, is the history of conquered and absorbed, or wiped out, peoples, religions, cultures, all of it--absolutely gone. Unfortunately, what Americans are taught in their schools and universities, regarding the history of the United States and its so-called 'Indian Policy' is, again, a skewed, fanciful version of the truth. What is more important, however, especially for Americans today, and for our 'Native American' brothers and sisters, is coming to understand the true challenges people are facing on these hellish Reservations and how Americans, and the American government, could best correct the situation. For damn sure what we are doing right now is not working. Suicide rates, drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, crime of all kinds, even murder, especially of native women--all highest in the nation in many areas. As the movie Wind River portrays, it's truly tragic. Our nation's Bureau of Indian Affairs is a bloated, ineffectual, even worthless bureaucracy, in my opinion, established and maintained by America's 'progressives' whose policies are, in my opinion, doing far more harm than good. American apologies, and 'white-guilt,' may make the virtue-signaling Left feel a bit better about themselves, but it's not doing our American Indian brothers and sisters any good. American leaders, as well as all tribal leaders, need to put aside politics, and starry-eyed longing for the return of a past that is dead and buried and start making hard-headed, WORKABLE policies that will actually do some good, for struggling people, not bloated politicians and bureaucrats. What we have now is a system that is the enemy of our long-suffering Native Americans, certainly those still living on the 'Res.' And it tears my heart out to see my friends and relatives suffer as they are. As the wise man once said: 'You can deny reality if you want, but you can never avoid the CONSEQUENCES of denying reality.' America today is wallowing in high-octane denial. --RPR
Hi Rick, thanks for your reply! If I understand you correctly, Americas handling of the Native American population isn’t the worst in history, but particularly nowadays we must do a far better job. Your well reviewed book “Torn Between Two Worlds,” as well as your other work tells me you have the experience to know! I appreciate your perspective and I look forward to reading the book.
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I just rewatched this masterpiece of a modern western tonight. The raw emotion and horror of this movie is something that only a western could pull off. A beautifully made movie, Sheridan crushed it
An excellent video essay and contribution to a movie that has been criminally underrated. Only in hindsight (thanks to Yellowstone) will people go back and assess this piece, which is a far more darker interpretation (realistic) of the plight that reservation life entails. The stark reality is confronting in content and theme- something that many would prefer to avoid. Sheridan deserves accolades for his direct approach. Whilst many friends love Yellowstone, I have pointed them to the more thought provoking and uncomfortable truths that this movie represents. Before solutions are found- we must agree the problem. Wind River goes to this aim and presents difficult and tough diagnoses. Nice work on the analyses and breakout. Inevitable that Sheridan was to become significant with this piece to finish his western triumvirate : Sicario, Hell or High Water, Wind River.
Any "film Critic" That claims he is stealing from Quinten Tarentino has obviously never seen a movie made before 1990. Tarintino borrows from every source he can( and freely admits it.) So it's more likely that he is paying homage to the same films Tarintino did.
I'm Passamaquoddy(a Maine Tribe) I will say this Movie is great and definitely forgotten aspect of the the Native tribes in today's society people have absolutely how poor and infested with drugs the Reservations are. Most people only today Romanticize the Indian culture but truly have No idea how bad it is I had a old hippie women tell me she wishes she could live on a Reservation I looked at a Comanche friend of mine and spoke to her later and said" are you kidding? I don't even like going to the Rez" to visit family.... She intern replied" yep she she obviously never been to one" found it to patronizing but I believe this to be probably the best representation of a Reservation I've seen yet.
I'm so bummed that this movie isn't more widely known. I saw it in the theater 3 yrs ago and it's haunted me ever since. Thanks for a wonderful examination of how it fits in a genre that it probably wouldn't typically be thought of. Looking forward to some of your other vids!
Its really good. More folks should see it!
One aspect of this movie that I thoroughly enjoy is the dedication to shoot outside. I love seeing the natural plumes of breath, knowing they're filming on location, not a sound stage. Of course, the writing and acting is all first rate, too. In my top ten.
Heartbreaking when the father admits he doesn't know what the face paint means for his daughter's death. He just feels he has to make some connection to his ancestors and identity.
The gunfight at the end is sort of a noble, traditional "western" shootout, until the Automatic rifle mows everyone down with ease.
Great video essay. Well done.
What a movie. I was stunned in horror watching this film and sobbed on the re-watch. Very powerful.
Wind River is an all time favorite of mine, definitely in the top three best modern western films, for me.
What are the other two?
@@sethrakes1991 ATM it's No Country for Old Men and The Hollow Point, although I've swapped one or the other at times.
@@Sam-iw6te Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to check out The Hollow Point.
My ancestors are Shoshoni. I lived for two years with the Navajo, and speak the Navajo language. This film greatly moved me. I don't think it's possible to not be impressed by the powerful performances. However, I'm concerned about how America's 'Indian history' is portrayed and how America is viewed through the eyes of the modern, low-information viewer. If you believe that our past is as painted and portrayed by such 'historians' as Howard Zinn and his Peoples' History of the United States you are being misled. Woefully. I've lived all over the world, and speak several languages. More so, as a former US Diplomat, I've live and studied the histories of the world's continents, peoples, wars, and conquests. The history of the world is the history of displacement, death, starvation, and universal slavery. But it is also the history of cooperation and even, at times, compassion. In truth, America's 'sins' are universal in the world. What's unique are America's virtues. To state that 'America was built upon violence,' as is too often said, is simplistic. In many cases, both my Anglo and my Shoshoni ancestors, worked together and cooperated in order to survive. A very many, like Jeremy Renner's character, intermarried. Simply, European-Americans could not have survived their move west without learning from the Natives and in many cases, cooperating as friends and allies. While there was killing, even murder, there was also teaming up, even occasionally mutual compassion shown. That has always been the case, in every land. In American Indian history, the Navajos, and Apaches (both from the same racial/linguistic roots) immigrated from what would become Canada and forced their way onto Pueblo lands of the Southwest. They were strong. They were warlike. And they survived, at the expense of Pueblo tribes. The Navajos were infamous for raiding the neighboring Utes for slaves. As well, the Shoshoni splinter group that became the Comanches, rolled through the western plains from what would become Wyoming south into what would become Texas, displacing several weaker tribes, even wiping some out. Such tragedies could be cited over and over again, in America, and on literally EVERY continent on earth, throughout history. That's the reality. What's amazing, and unique, is that ANY so-called American Indians even exist at all in the United States today. History, on every continent, is the history of conquered and absorbed, or wiped out, peoples, religions, cultures, all of it--absolutely gone. Unfortunately, what Americans are taught in their schools and universities, regarding the history of the United States and its so-called 'Indian Policy' is, again, a skewed, fanciful version of the truth. What is more important, however, especially for Americans today, and for our 'Native American' brothers and sisters, is coming to understand the true challenges people are facing on these hellish Reservations and how Americans, and the American government, could best correct the situation. For damn sure what we are doing right now is not working. Suicide rates, drug and alcohol abuse, child abuse, crime of all kinds, even murder, especially of native women--all highest in the nation in many areas. As the movie Wind River portrays, it's truly tragic. Our nation's Bureau of Indian Affairs is a bloated, ineffectual, even worthless bureaucracy, in my opinion, established and maintained by America's 'progressives' whose policies are, in my opinion, doing far more harm than good. American apologies, and 'white-guilt,' may make the virtue-signaling Left feel a bit better about themselves, but it's not doing our American Indian brothers and sisters any good. American leaders, as well as all tribal leaders, need to put aside politics, and starry-eyed longing for the return of a past that is dead and buried and start making hard-headed, WORKABLE policies that will actually do some good, for struggling people, not bloated politicians and bureaucrats. What we have now is a system that is the enemy of our long-suffering Native Americans, certainly those still living on the 'Res.' And it tears my heart out to see my friends and relatives suffer as they are. As the wise man once said: 'You can deny reality if you want, but you can never avoid the CONSEQUENCES of denying reality.'
America today is wallowing in high-octane denial.
--RPR
Hi Rick, thanks for your reply! If I understand you correctly, Americas handling of the Native American population isn’t the worst in history, but particularly nowadays we must do a far better job.
Your well reviewed book “Torn Between Two Worlds,” as well as your other work tells me you have the experience to know!
I appreciate your perspective and I look forward to reading the book.
This is poignant and well-stated, and is exactly the problem here in Canada as well.
thank you thank you thank you
This is one of those movies that stay with you for a long time
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I just rewatched this masterpiece of a modern western tonight. The raw emotion and horror of this movie is something that only a western could pull off. A beautifully made movie, Sheridan crushed it
Another good one is, "Thunder Heart." - Val Kilmer rocked it.
Great break down of a underrated film. The modern western depicting the complex issues created by the manifest destiny driven old west.
Thanks Mike!
Please keep making videos. You do great work highlighting an underappreciated genre.
I absolutely enjoyed this film it's so underrated Jeremy Renner did great job along with Taylor Sheridan
An excellent video essay and contribution to a movie that has been criminally underrated. Only in hindsight (thanks to Yellowstone) will people go back and assess this piece, which is a far more darker interpretation (realistic) of the plight that reservation life entails. The stark reality is confronting in content and theme- something that many would prefer to avoid. Sheridan deserves accolades for his direct approach. Whilst many friends love Yellowstone, I have pointed them to the more thought provoking and uncomfortable truths that this movie represents. Before solutions are found- we must agree the problem. Wind River goes to this aim and presents difficult and tough diagnoses. Nice work on the analyses and breakout. Inevitable that Sheridan was to become significant with this piece to finish his western triumvirate : Sicario, Hell or High Water, Wind River.
Thanks for your videos. Love from India 🇮🇳
Tarantino could not hold Sheridan's saddle bags. Wind River is a masterpiece.
this one is an "its ok for a grown man to cry" movie
It advances what a modern full power 45-70 loading can do. 3500 to 4000 ft.lbs tends to be an attention-getter. All kidding aside, it's a great movie.
This sis awesome!!!
Any "film Critic" That claims he is stealing from Quinten Tarentino has obviously never seen a movie made before 1990. Tarintino borrows from every source he can( and freely admits it.) So it's more likely that he is paying homage to the same films Tarintino did.
I'm Passamaquoddy(a Maine Tribe) I will say this Movie is great and definitely forgotten aspect of the the Native tribes in today's society people have absolutely how poor and infested with drugs the Reservations are. Most people only today Romanticize the Indian culture but truly have No idea how bad it is I had a old hippie women tell me she wishes she could live on a Reservation I looked at a Comanche friend of mine and spoke to her later and said" are you kidding? I don't even like going to the Rez" to visit family.... She intern replied" yep she she obviously never been to one" found it to patronizing but I believe this to be probably the best representation of a Reservation I've seen yet.
Yes, the scenes in the snow are absolutely brutal.
Great movie
Wind River is a great movie. I love westerns but I also love comics and comic book movies and shows. Wind River has two Avengers and the Punisher!
This film is way better than crap like avengers
a wow review
This movie caught me off guard.
fold your flag brother