A lieutenant serving during the American Civil War, is posted at a remote and isolated location, with only Native Americans and a curious wolf for company.
Kevin Costner plays Lt John Dunbar, an established military soldier, who earns a reputation for himself during a fierce stand-off between the Union and the Confederacy forces. Wishing to see the frontier before is disappears, Dunbar requests to be sent right into the thick of Indian territory, where he can best serve his nation. However, once he arrives at the empty post, he soon realises that there is little to do, except protect the rations from local Indians, maintain the near-derelict barracks, and play with an inquisitive wolf.
However, as the Indians become curious about this lone white man sitting in the middle of their land, their interaction becomes more and more pronounced. At first wary of Dunbar, they soon form an amicable relationship, and begin trading customs and information with each other. John soon realises that the myths and legends of these people have been terribly distorted, and finds a welcoming community which he soon becomes an important part of. He forms an intimate relationship with one of the members, a white woman who was rescued by the Indians early in her life, called Stands With A Fist (Mary McDonnell).
Life amongst the Indians, while enjoyable, is also considered completely traitorous in the eyes of the United States army. So while Dunbar helps his new friends fight against local enemy tribes, he must also try to protect them, and himself, from the pursuing forces of Uncle Sam.
An enjoyable film, it displays a sentimental and romantic vision of life on the frontier. Costner, for the most part, is an engaging and interesting central character, although his voice over narrative sounds almost childlike, and gets a bit annoying. The action/fight scenes are well produced, in a time before CGI dominance, these stunts have the reality factor which appeals to many viewers.
At times, the film is too sentimental, and seems more like a guilty response to what can only be describes as an awful period in history. The battle between these different races was bloody, and the effects were irreversible. However, it is a good thing that films like this wet people’s appetites for history, and will inevitably make some read up on it.
In conclusion, a worthy film, it has the fulfilling ability to include romance, action, history and drama, and, although slightly too long, it is a film people will revisit for good reasons.
No: 2 from my list…DONE
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