Dances With Wolves

On Sunday I watched the film “Dances with Wolves”, which was directed by and starred Kevin Costner. It was the winner of seven Oscars including Best Film and Best Director, and deservedly so.

It tells the story of Lt. John Dunbar who is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, and is sent to a remote outpost in the wilderness of the Dakota Territory, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone, and meets a wolf he dubs "Two-socks" and a curious Indian tribe. Dunbar quickly makes friends with the tribe, and is eventually accepted into the local Sioux tribe, and discovers a white woman who was raised by the Indians. He becomes known as "Dances with Wolves" to them and as time passes he becomes enamoured by the beautiful "Stands with a Fist". Soon after, the frontier becomes the frontier no more, and as the army advances on the plains, John must make a decision that will not only affect him, but also the lives of the natives he now calls his people. He gradually earns the respect of these native people, and sheds his white-man's ways.

Not your usual Cowboy and Indian stuff, where all the Cowboys are goodies and all the Indians are baddies, but a well thought out and stimulating film, which deals in a very realistic and thoughtful way with the problems of the White Man gradually taking over the Indian Territory.

The music to the film is composed by the doyen of Soundtrack composers, John Barry, and contains the ever popular John Dunbar Theme.

If it’s listed in the tv schedules have a look at it. You’ll probably enjoy it.