1991 Berlinale Silver Bear For An Outstanding Single Achievement
1991 Oscar Best Music Original Score
This was one of those films I had put off viewing for years, but in hindsight I wish I had continued to put it off. This is the exact type of film which demonstrates just how pointless the Oscar awards are. The story is overly long and fairly dull, the acting is sub-standard and it manages pack in every western cliché in the book.
A rich and very rewarding film, epic in length and structure but with a beautiful story that incorporates romance and action and has deep thematic ideas around man's place in the world and the environment. Set in the 1860s this is the tory of John Dunbar (Kevin Costner), a Lieutenant in the army who after a suicidal act of gallantry during the American Civil War, chooses a posting on the western frontier where white man have yet to colonise. Finding his ramshackle post to be deserted Dunbar tries to adapt to the wilderness which begins to affect him spiritually. He soon attracts the attention of the Sioux Indians who live nearby and, his initial suspicions of them as potential murderous savages soon gives way to the realisation they are a gentle, happy and generous people who adopt him and where he finds peace and love. Unfortunately his past will soon catch up with him. There's been several key films that look at the plight of Native Americans and this is arguably the most famous and possibly significant. Yes it's a western by genre definition but a western that western haters love. It looks at the destructive nature of capitalism for profit and importantly that humanity needs to be a part of nature and not pillage it for selfish gain. As a story it's fantastic, lovingly directed by Costner, and with a great support cast that includes Mary McDonnell as a white woman rescued and raised by the Sioux. A warm, exciting and at times very moving and tense film that everyone will love. If you haven't seen this then I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have but its been awhile then seek it out and be reminded just what a great film experience this is. (Check out the Director's Cut, it has additional and very interesting scenes)