List

Indigenous Perspectives

By Sharon Weinberg

In honor of indigenous peoples and their ways of life, here are some suggested titles.

  • Boy

    2013

    Included on my Under the Radar movie picks, I am pleased to have this charming New Zealand flick on another list because Taika Waititi is an awesome filmmaker. If you only know him from directing Thor: Ragnarok, I actually recommend all his movies.

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  • The Dark Horse

    2016

    A biopic about Genesis Potini, a speed chess player who suffers from bipolar disorder. He gets involved with teaching local kids how to play chess, relates the game to their Maori heritage, and shows that there are options to joining gangs.

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  • The fast runner

    2003

    An epic movie that takes place at the start of the first millennium, bringing to the screen an ancient Inuit legend about a small community fragmented by an evil shaman. Written, directed, and acted in the Inuit language, this beautifully crafted film is a remarkable achievement and noted for its authentic sets, costumes, and documentation of an important Inuit myth.

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  • Jasper Jones

    2018

    Set in 1968 Australia, this is a perceptive coming-of-age story about a mixed-race boy accused of causing the disappearance of white girl. Issues considered include prejudice, discrimination, child abuse, domestic violence, and Aboriginal rights. Based on the bestselling book, filmmaker Rachel Perkins hits the mark.

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  • Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian

    2010

    Not just for movie buffs, this documentary takes the form of a road-trip movie, with director Neil Diamond traveling in a "rez" car to interview actors, activists, and scholars. The stories, commentaries, and archival footage offer a thought-provoking look at the history and portrayal of Native Americans in film.

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  • The Sapphires

    2013

    Adapted from a stage play and inspired by true events taking place in 1968, four indigenous Australian girls form a group called The Sapphires. They connect with a Motown-loving scout/manager and travel to Vietnam to perform for the troops. Do not let the cover art fool you - this is all about the talented women, and it is a gem of a movie, with a terrific music soundtrack.

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  • Skinwalkers

    2002

    Wes Studi and Adam Beach co-star as Navajo tribal police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee in three PBS television adaptations of the Tony Hillerman mysteries: Skinwalkers, Thief of Time, and Coyote Waits. Chris Eyre directed the first two adaptations. Another suggestion is the groundbreaking comedy Smoke Signals, directed by Eyre and starring Beach. Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, it has a Native American cast, director, writer, and producer.

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  • Songs My Brothers Taught Me

    2016

    This is on my Notable Firsts list, and I am citing it again because filmmaker Chloe Zhao delivers a poetic, raw, and well-observed movie. In addition, I recommend her second feature movie, The Rider, also filmed on Pine Ridge Reservation.

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  • Sweet Country

    2018

    Set in Australia in 1929, based on true events, this western directed by Warwick Thornton does not pull any punches in its harshness. It follows an Aboriginal farm worker who flees across the outback with his wife after an encounter with a brutal white man. Thornton was the cinematographer as well, and the movie is visually stunning.

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  • Tanna

    2017

    Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, this depicts a true story about star-crossed lovers who defy the law about arranged marriages. Filmed in the South Pacific on the island Vanuatu, the cinematography is gorgeous. The cast had never acted before nor even saw a movie. They later said that it was easy because they were telling a well-known tale about their ancestors and doing many things that they do in everyday life.

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  • Whale Rider

    2003

    Also on my Girl Power movie list, this is a great story about courage, determination, and Maori tradition. Check it out!

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  • Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World

    2017

    A hot doc from Canada, this award-winning film profiles several influential indigenous musicians. I learned a lot, and wish that there were a part two. This is definitely a favorite that I enjoy recommending.

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