Upcoming Native American movies.

The holiday season comes and goes so fast every year. Tis the time of year for holiday cheer and festive activities abound. Don’t forget about going to the movies. In December movie studios release some of their so called big budget films hoping to get some of that holiday bonus money into their pockets. Well there are some Native American films on that list this year.

Christmas in the Clouds is billed as “The first romantic comedy set in Indian Country.” This movie was first show at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. It played to sellout crowds and received standing ovations. Director Kate Montgomery finally got it released to the general public this year. There must have been a very persistent campaign to get its general release. All of the reviews that I read have been very positive.

The cast list includes: Sam Vlahos (Joe Clouds on Fire), Tim Vahle (Ray Clouds on Fire), Graham Greene, Wes Studi, Sheila Tousey and Rita Coolidge. This movie was filmed on location at Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort in Utah. It is a “Tale of Love, bingo, Tribal Enterprises and mistaken identity” in a nutshell.

“In Kate Montgomery’s romantic feature, Native Americans are neither iconic nor evil, neither virtuous seers nor monotone drunks. They are flawed and funny people. Just people!” Telluride Weekly Planet.

For more information go to their website www.christmasintheclouds.com. This movie comes to the Milwaukee area on December 9, 2005.

Are you looking for a big budget film? How about a Native American big budget film? Well this year there is one. And it is being released on one of the biggest release dates of the year, Christmas Day.

The New World is the much anticipated release from famed writer/director Terrence Malick. (Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line)
This is the story synopsis from the website www.thenewworldmovie.com :

"The New World is sweeping adventure set amidst the first encounter of European and Native American cultures during the founding of the Jamestown Virginia settlement in 1607. Acclaimed filmmaker Terrence Malick brings to life his own unique interpretation of the classic tale of Pocahontas and her relationships with adventurer John Smith and aristocrat John Rolfe. This woman’s remarkable journey of love lost and found takes her from the untouched beauty of the Virginia wilderness to the upper crust of English society as we witness the dawn of a new America.”

Terrence Malick’s version is in his own words. The cast includes: Colin Farrell (John Smith), Christian Bale (John Rolfe), Christopher Plummer (Captain Christopher Newport), Powhatan (August Schellenberg) and Pocahontas (Q’orianka Kilcher) in her feature debut.

I have not seen any sneak preview reviews yet so I can’t say this is a must see yet. Its release date is scheduled for Christmas Day, December 25, 2005. Be a Tribal Soldier, go see both of these films and support Native actors. I am betting both of these films will be worth the price of admission.