We watched our 2nd film on the new Criterion streaming channel. It was Deb's pick this time, and she chose an older favourite. Back in the late 1980s there was an art house cinema in downtown Detroit, called the Tele Arts. We went there several times a week, until it finally closed down after a few years. That is where we first saw Powwow Highway, a Handmade Film from the company started by George Harrison, to promote high quality independent films. I'm pretty sure we went back and saw it twice, then asked Carl, the owner, for the poster. He gave it to us after the run!
We haven't seen it in quite a while, and when Deb spotted it on the Criterion list, her choice was made. The movie is based on a book by David Seals. Of course there are major differences between the book and the film, but they are both wonderful in their own way. As soon as we had seen the film we tracked down the book. I have only read it once, but will now try to read it again.
The movie pulls no punches about life on the reservation, as two Cheyenne men set out from Wyoming to Santa Fe, NM. It also does a superb job of telling the story of Filbert (Gary Farmer) and Buddy Red Bow (A. Martinez), and their adventures on the highway as they set out to buy bulls for the tribe, and rescue Buddy's sister from jail in Santa Fe. It's Christmas, and the decorations are often priceless, especially on the reservations.
Gary Farmer steals the show as the modern Cheyenne who wants to get in touch with the old traditions. He does it in a very unique way, and by the end of the film he even has Buddy the skeptic and angry young man, convinced. Farmer gives an Oscar-winning performance, but of course because of the anti-establishment and pro-Native messages, the film had no chance of winning anything significant in the US. I'm not sure how widely the film was shown. It is still a gem of a movie, despite part of it turning into an action adventure, which the book is not. Highly recommended!
We went to Detroit on Thursday, staying for lunch and a quick visit to the DIA. I have been updating Detroit craft beer pubs on my Midwest blog, and have a long way to go, especially if I only visit one pub per trip. I had a large volume of stories by Jack Williamson awaiting me at the mailbox, and there were two 45 rpm records that had arrived, ordered by my brother for his downstairs juke box.
Friday and Saturday it rained most of the day. It has been dark, rainy, cold, and windy. The ground is super saturated. I've been wanting to get outside with my film cameras, but the weather has no been cooperating. It is supposed to be warmer tomorrow and Monday.
Tomorrow (Easter Sunday) Deb has her MRI at Met hospital in Windsor. Weird, but true.
Mapman Mike
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