The Bobcat Nation

I just discovered this gem of a movie from 2002, which was written and directed by one of my favorite writers: Sherman Alexie. For being a very, very low-budget production, they do an amazing job of storytelling, and it uses some very unique styles (lots of scenes that are essentially metaphors that don't really fit into a linear storytelling path).

I highly recommend it, especially for anybody who liked "Smoke Signals," which is still one of my all-time favorite movies. Evan Adams, who played Thomas in "Smoke Signals," has the lead role in this movie, and plays a much different character in Fancydancing ... but still is a storyteller.

I put it on my netflix list not expecting much (as I had never heard anything about it), but it definitely exceeded my expectations.

There was also a UM hat spotted in one scene (it is filmed on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Eastern Washington, and there are a lot of mentions of the Flathead Reservation). It was in a pickup football game scene, and I am quite sure that guy got burned for a TD.

http://www.fallsapart.com/fancydancing/

I almost failed Native American Literature due to my negative review of Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven". It was a collection of short stories (which I believe, one of them was made into the film "Smoke Signals"). I thought a lot of his short stories contained a lot of anti-white themes. It seemed like of a lot of his stories didn't have any other plotlines or themes. Thier sole point was that the white man is bad.

I didn't even want to see "Smoke Signals" because I remembered how much I disliked "Fistfight in Heaven". But, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought "Smoke Signals" was funny, it had a good storyline, it was well written and well acted. Perhaps "Fancydancing" is also a good film, however, I wasn't impressed with Alexie as an author.

(I ended up getting a B- in Nat. Amer. Lit., as I scored a perfect 100% in the final. I did get a F on my review from Dr. Walter Flemming, current Department Head, Native American Studies)

WolfPtCat wrote:I almost failed Native American Literature due to my negative review of Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven". It was a collection of short stories (which I believe, one of them was made into the film "Smoke Signals"). I thought a lot of his short stories contained a lot of anti-white themes. It seemed like of a lot of his stories didn't have any other plotlines or themes. Thier sole point was that the white man is bad.

I didn't even want to see "Smoke Signals" because I remembered how much I disliked "Fistfight in Heaven". But, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought "Smoke Signals" was funny, it had a good storyline, it was well written and well acted. Perhaps "Fancydancing" is also a good film, however, I wasn't impressed with Alexie as an author.

(I ended up getting a B- in Nat. Amer. Lit., as I scored a perfect 100% in the final. I did get a F on my review from Dr. Walter Flemming, current Department Head, Native American Studies)

"Indian Killer" is another great Alexie read.

WolfPtCat wrote:I almost failed Native American Literature due to my negative review of Sherman Alexie's "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven". It was a collection of short stories (which I believe, one of them was made into the film "Smoke Signals"). I thought a lot of his short stories contained a lot of anti-white themes. It seemed like of a lot of his stories didn't have any other plotlines or themes. Thier sole point was that the white man is bad.

I didn't even want to see "Smoke Signals" because I remembered how much I disliked "Fistfight in Heaven". But, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought "Smoke Signals" was funny, it had a good storyline, it was well written and well acted. Perhaps "Fancydancing" is also a good film, however, I wasn't impressed with Alexie as an author.

(I ended up getting a B- in Nat. Amer. Lit., as I scored a perfect 100% in the final. I did get a F on my review from Dr. Walter Flemming, current Department Head, Native American Studies)

Im surprised that you thought there were too many anti white themes when you grew up on the rez. (I grew up in WP as well) i guess I can see where you got it from, but i thought it was a great read. Dont get me wrong, you will never hear me say that natives are entitled to alot of the things they are handed ( although thats the beauty of treaty rights if you are native), but the US government didnt exactly live up to its billing. In fact one could make the arguement that the treatment of American Indians is on par or worse than the treatment of slavery in this country. (thats a whole different arguement though) Any modern Native American read your look at is going to have some anti white themes. I didnt think that Fist fight was over the top by any means though. Smoke signals is a great movie. I actually use parts of it when I teach a unit on Native Americans in my classes. If you want a couple more good reads try Fools Crow (fiction) by the late James Welch, Ceremony (fiction) by someone I cant remember right now, and Counting Coup(non-fiction about bball on the rez) by Larry Colton.

Just to let all of you know about a good historical read, James Welch's Killing Custer is a great narrative from the Native American perspective on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It's most certainly worth reading.

bozbobcat wrote:Just to let all of you know about a good historical read, James Welch's Killing Custer is a great narrative from the Native American perspective on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It's most certainly worth reading.

Excellent book, bozbobcat! Another one that I thought was just as good is Keep The Last Bullet For Yourself, written by Thomas B. Marquis.

Dr. Marquis was a physician at the turn of the century that befriended quite a few of the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow veterans of the Custer fight. This book contains his transcribed stories, and is a pretty compelling read if you're into this part of our history.