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Just as with Gulliver's Travels and Moll Flanders, Hollywood has once again couched a genuine literary classic within an outer tale outside the original. Still, the film is essentially faithful to both Longfellow's epic poem and the Native American tradition. Prophetically, just as did his contemporary James Fenimore Cooper (author of The Last of the Mohicans) so did Longfellow foresee and foretell the destruction of the Native American way of life.
The current movie of Hiawatha faithfully depicts a lost way of life for the Native Americans as it shows their efforts to survive climate conditions, famine,and war as well as their discoveries of corn and efforts at establishing peace among the tribes in the face of the encroaching white man. This long departed microcosm is further enhanced by the outer tale with encroaching white men, one who understands and appreciates their way of life, and one who introduces materialism and dissention to the tribe.
The mystical visual effects underscore the Native American belief of a spirit world where messengers walk among ordinary people, often changing their lives, and then return to the spirit world. The actors in this movie are highly successful in portraying the narrative Longfellow created. The Native American characters are believable and the actors playing their parts capable of enabling the viewer to understand the plight of these characters. They all coalesce to underscore the image of Hiawatha as a wise and chosen one, in touch with his inner self and the outer world that the spirits have shown him will be. Of course, this internal harmony would not have been possible without the traditional dream vision, included in such varied movies as the Billy Jack series right up to Thunderheart and Smoke Signals, and even on the X files.
I loved this movie. Having seen several of these actors in other movies with a strong Native American theme, I felt as if I were seeing some old friends. Graham Greene is a classic actor, low key, witty, and wise. Russell Means brings sincerity and truth to his role, as does newcomer Lightfoot. Irene Bedard is a totally vivacious Minnehaha, and Adam Beach, a great friend and sidekick. Their presence also reassured me of the authenticity of presentation of the culture they portray. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to see a good movie or anyone wanting to know more of the early Native American culture or history as well as someone wanting to capture a piece of the literary view of Longfellow. Gone is the tom-tom rhythm of his epic poem, but the tale is alive, entertaining, inspiring.
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