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Post by crawdaddo on Oct 13, 2007 23:40:13 GMT -6
Has anyone seen that movie Black Robe? Although it is set on the east coast and I think in Canada I think this is an excellent movie regarding the influence of the Europeans on the Indians in those early times around 1700. The film is based on a book of the same title and is very true to the book.I would recommend this and think it would appeal to a lot of the people on this website. craw...
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Post by harpskiddie on Oct 14, 2007 0:07:51 GMT -6
It IS set in Canada, I believe among the Hurons or Algonquins in Ontario. I saw the movie years ago, and was quite impressed. The lead actor was also Canadian, I think - indeed the whole film might have been a Canadian production, maybe a CBC effort, as far as I remember.
Fact is, there were more Indian battles in the eastern part of North America, more casualties, and worse defeats for the military by the Indians than in the Plains Indian Wars.
Gordie, see the gal with the diamond ring - she know how to shake that thing....................................
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Post by "Hunk" Papa on Oct 14, 2007 5:43:47 GMT -6
The book is by Brian Moore, an Irish novelist who emigrated to Canada and became a Canadian citizen. Gordie is right, it is set in Canada, Quebec and the eastern woodland Indians, those already mentioned plus the Iroquois. Moore was also a screen writer and that may account for why for once the film held true to the book. It is a rivetting film, Craw, and emotionally draining, but very well worth watching.
Hunk Goodness, gracious, great......
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Post by shan on Oct 14, 2007 6:10:38 GMT -6
I'd like to echo what everybody has said about both book and film. Both brilliently re-create a world without making judjements or concesions to either side, and by doing so, it is then left to us to draw our own conclusions as to what closed minds, from whatever side, can do to another culture. Ahh me, how rare, and how nice to be treated as an adult by both author and film maker. Shan
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Post by fred on Oct 14, 2007 7:23:29 GMT -6
The paperback is listed on Amazon for $US11.70. The DVD seems to have 2 prints, 2001 and 1998; anywhere from $US7.49 to $US12.99. It stars Lothaire Bluteau, Aden Young, Sandrine Holt, August Schellenberg, none of whom I have ever heard of (like that's a revelation!), probably a good thing.
Because of my respect and admiration for the "critics" on this thread, the 2001 DVD is now on my list.
Thank you.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by BrokenSword on Oct 14, 2007 7:28:26 GMT -6
Hey Fred-
August Schellenberg, at least, I've heard of. He played Sitting Bul in HBO's 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", among other things. I think he also was in 'Free Willy'.
M
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Post by fred on Oct 14, 2007 8:02:47 GMT -6
August Schellenberg, at least, I've heard of. He played Sitting Bul in HBO's 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee", among other things. I think he also was in 'Free Willy'. Ah-h-h! The only Schellenberg I had ever heard of until now was Walther...
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Post by "Hunk" Papa on Oct 14, 2007 16:25:39 GMT -6
Fred, you have established one of the main reasons why the movie was so good - the relatively unknown cast. It was a huge change not to have to try and look past Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise or George Clooney to get to grips with the actual characters. The only actor I have ever seen totally absorb his own persona into that of the character in a 'frontier' type movie was Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye in the modern remake of 'Last of the Mohicans.' There again, he was probably desperate to absorb himself in anything that would get him away from Russell Means!!
A la prochaine, mon brave (Uncas?) Hunk
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Post by crzhrs on Oct 15, 2007 8:45:14 GMT -6
Excellent movie . . . far more realistic and less PC.
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Post by Jas. Watson on Oct 16, 2007 13:18:26 GMT -6
I agree with the above sentiments. It is refreshing to see a movie of that quality. One of the best things I really liked about the film was its ability to convey the remoteness of the time and place--you really felt out there at the end of the known world...and yet you also felt the Indians' feeling of alieness of the whites--this strange new culture and people so unlike the native folks and their land. A real showing of the emotional culture 'clash'. Love that film!
Jas~
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Post by harpskiddie on Oct 16, 2007 13:28:26 GMT -6
Until you have been in virgin forest, either in the east or anywhere [we have some doozies out here], you have no idea of what "remote" means. The old saw about not being able to see the forest for the trees becomes less a metaphor, and more a reality.
Gordie, gonna hang my sombrero on the limb of a tree......................................................
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Post by crzhrs on Oct 16, 2007 13:40:35 GMT -6
He may have been talking about the remote forest at the time. Virtually unknown to outsiders except for trappers/traders.
Main transportation was by canoe . . .
If anyone can find a virgin forest in the east you get a kewpie doll. There are some old growth stands left in Maine of some size, a few pockets here and there in the Northeast.
Even in the West there are few truly "remote" places . . . totally roadless, not even a foot path. Even worse, the distance from a road has been greatly reduced to probably a good day's walk in most "remote" places.
See THE BIG OUTSIDE (author is Earthfirst! founder) for a shocking glimpse of "wilderness" in the lower 48.
Anyway, The Black Robe is worth a viewing . . . the starkness of the photography is outstanding.
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Post by Jas. Watson on Oct 17, 2007 9:03:12 GMT -6
Wilderness has lately been generally defined as more than five miles from any sort of road. I have seen a map of the US with such areas shown. You're right, there ain't a whole lot left. One surprise though was the amount of such in, of all places, New york! NY is actually a pretty wild place once you get to upstate (Guess that's why there is such a feud between 'downstaters' & 'upstaters'--they are such a different people). I have been in some of the primeval forest in upstate NY--not covering so much area, but very impressive nonetheless. Here in NC there are some primeval forest in the western part of the state along with Tennessee, it is a whole different looking kind of woods! But whether you get in to actual 'old growth' or just in that five miles away areas, you can get that feeling of 'being all on your own'--particularly out in the desert country. Everyone should go and experience a dose of that 'ultimate reality' at least once in their lives. City folk might find it a bit disconcerting or even downright scary if they think about it. But of course these days of cell phones and high tech location devices a lot of the 'aloneness' has been taken out of it...unfortunately.
Jas~
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Post by crzhrs on Oct 17, 2007 12:49:53 GMT -6
Adirondack State Park . . . the largest state park in the US. Far-sighted people had the vision to protect millions of acres of land. Today it is one of the last "wild" places in the East.
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Post by Jas. Watson on Oct 18, 2007 13:37:20 GMT -6
And wild it is too! I have traveled by canoe through some of that and sometimes haven't seen a single human or man made thing for days at a time...not many places in the east you can say that.
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