Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) (TV)

Director:

Yves Simoneau

Writers (WGA):

Daniel Giat (screenplay)
Dee Brown (based on the book by)

Release Date:

27 May 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Western

Tagline:

The Epic Fall of the American Indian

Plot:

A chronicle of how American Indians were displaced as the U.S. expanded west. Based on the book by Dee Brown.

Plot Keywords:

Government | General | Senator | U.S. Government | Chief

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 20 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Anna Paquin	...	Elaine Goodale
Chevez Ezaneh	...	Ohiyesa / Young Charles
August Schellenberg	...	Sitting Bull
Duane Howard	...	Uncle
Aidan Quinn	...	Henry Dawes
Colm Feore	...	General Sherman
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	President Ulysses S. Grant (as Fred Thompson)
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	...	One Bull (as Nathan Chasing Horse)
Wayne Charles Baker	...	Jacob
Brian Stollery	...	Bishop Whipple
Shaun Johnston	...	Col. Nelson Miles
Gordon Tootoosis	...	Chief Red Cloud
Billy Merasty	...	Young Man Afraid
Morris Birdyellowhead	...	American Horse
Eddie Spears	...	Chasing Crane
Holly Bird	...	Scarlet Whirlwind
Sean Wei Mah	...	Bull Head
Star Birdyellowhead	...	Bull Head's Wife
Eric Schweig	...	Gall
Jayson Therrien	...	Soldier
Chantal Perron	...	Teacher
Patrick St. Esprit	...	Major Walsh
David Cowley	...	Mountie
Jemma Blackwell	...	Woman
Adam Beach	...	Charles Eastman
Laura Bachynski	...	Mrs. Goodale
Barbara Scout	...	Singing Sioux Woman
David Bigchild	...	Sergeant / Horse Thief
Nakotah LaRance	...	Crow Foot
Michelle Thrush	...	Four Robes
J.K. Simmons	...	James McLaughlin
Tom Carey	...	Issue Clerk
Jim Rattai	...	Crier
Jonathan Fox	...	Chasing Crane's Son
Lee Tergesen	...	Daniel Royer
Scott McAdam	...	Photographer
Wes Studi	...	Wovoka / Jack Wilson
Hrothgar Mathews	...	Reverend Woods
Tokala Clifford	...	Little Wolf
Jason Blackhorse	...	Young Sioux Man
Jonathan Brewer	...	Village Man
Robert Big Sorrel Horse	...	Village Man
Marty Antonini	...	Colonel James Forsyth
Jimmy Herman	...	Yellow Bird
Brian Copping	...	Secretary

Directed by
Yves Simoneau

Writing credits (WGA)
Daniel Giat		(screenplay)
Dee Brown		(based on the book by) (as Dee Alexander Brown)

Produced by
Clara George	....	producer
Yves Simoneau	....	co-executive producer
Tom Thayer	....	executive producer
Dick Wolf	....	executive producer

Original Music by
George S. Clinton

Cinematography by
David Franco		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Brown
Michael D. Ornstein		(as Michael Ornstein)

Casting by
Rene Haynes

Production Design by
Ian D. Thomas		(as Ian Thomas)

Art Direction by
Douglasann Menchions		(as D.A. Menchions)

Set Decoration by
Paul Healy

Costume Design by
Mario Davignon

Makeup Department
Iloe Flewelling	....	hair designer
Chris Harrison-Glimsdale	....	hair stylist (as Chris Harrison)
Heather L. Ingram	....	hair stylist (as Heather Ingram-Smith)
Gail Kennedy	....	key makeup artist
Gail Kennedy	....	special makeup effects artist
Rochelle Pomerleau	....	makeup artist
Joanne Preece	....	makeup artist
Penny Thompson	....	hair stylist (as Pennylea Thompson)
Sharon Toohey	....	assistant makeup artist
J.D. Bowers	....	prosthetics lab technician: W.M. Creations Inc. (uncredited)
J.D. Bowers	....	prosthetics sculptor: W.M. Creations Inc. (uncredited)
Donna Fuller	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Linda Rogers-Ambury	....	production manager
Greg Spence	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Ambury	....	additional first assistant director
Ricky Friedman	....	additional first assistant director (as Richard Friedman)
Joanna Krupicz	....	third assistant director
Tony LaHaye	....	trainee assistant director
Karen Margolese	....	second second assistant director
Peter D. Marshall	....	first assistant director
Martin Pedersen	....	second assistant director
Lisa Jemus	....	daily on-set third assistant director (uncredited)
Adam Martin	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Cheryl Allsen	....	on-set greensperson
Alfred A. Arndt	....	construction coordinator (as Alf Arndt)
Robert Arndt	....	construction foreman
Leonard Ayotte	....	head carpenter (as Len Ayotte)
Rick Barrett	....	scenic carpenter
Pierre Bartlette	....	lead scenic carpenter (as Pierre F. Bartlette)
Trent Breitkreutz	....	set dresser
Tim C Campbell	....	paint coordinator (as Tim Campbell)
Barbara Chandler	....	scenic painter
Dawn-Anne Coulson	....	construction buyer
Jack Crowells	....	on-set dresser
John Dambrauskas	....	greens coordinator
Ron Darby	....	props assistant
Barry De Bolt	....	scenic carpenter
Darcy Healy	....	lead set dresser
Crystal Husum	....	paint foreman
Johnny Jones	....	assistant property master
Craig Lazdins	....	set dresser
Alan McCullagh	....	assistant set decorator (as Alan J. McCullagh)
Rhonda Nielson	....	set buyer (as Rhonda L. Nielson)
Steve Pilon	....	scenic carpenter
Albert Seibert	....	props assistant (as Albert F. Seibert)
F. Dale Stevens	....	best boy greens
Susan Turner	....	set designer
Bev Ulmer	....	scenic painter (as Beverly Ulmer)
Rob White	....	set dresser
Jordy Wihak	....	property master
Justin Faubert	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Craig Humphries	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Craig Humphries	....	graphic artist (uncredited)
Megz Reynolds	....	trainee set dresser (uncredited)
Derek Steenstra	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound mixer
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects editor
Dean Beville	....	sound effects editor
Perry Blackman	....	adr
Ed Carr	....	sound mixer (as Edward C. Carr III)
Steffan Falesitch	....	dialogue editor
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Fine)
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound designer (as Stephen Flick)
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound supervisor (as Stephen Flick)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound designer (as Avram Gold)
Avram D. Gold	....	sound supervisor (as Avram Gold)
Eric Hertsguaard	....	dialogue editor (as Eric Hertsgaard)
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Denise Horta	....	dialogue editor
Eric Cameron Hosmer	....	foley mixer (as Eric Hosmer)
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Adam Johnston	....	sound effects editor
Patricio A. Libenson	....	dialogue editor (as Patricio Libenson)
Mike Markiw	....	boom operator
Glen Noseworthy	....	adr mixer
Sonny Pettijohn	....	first sound effects assistant
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer
Jeff Sawyer	....	sound effects editor
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor
George Tarrant	....	sound mixer (as George F. Tarrant)
Calvin Wilson	....	cable puller (as Cal Wilson)
Kenneth Young	....	sound effects editor
Jason Oliver	....	ProTools adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Kelly Coe	....	special effects technician
Neil Krause	....	special effects technician
Marc Lord	....	special effects technician
Jason Paradis	....	special effects best boy
Maurice Routly	....	special effects coordinator
Amanda Paller	....	first assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Joseph Bell	....	visual effects production manager: Digital Dimension
Erik Bruhwiler	....	digital compositing supervisor: Digital Dimension
Todd Carson	....	roto/paint artist: Digital Dimension
Chris Del Conte	....	visual effects producer: Digital Dimension
Brian DeMetz	....	visual effects technical director: Digital Dimension
George Gervan Jr.	....	roto/paint artist: Digital Dimension
Richard Gervan	....	roto/paint artist: Digital Dimension
David Goldberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Philipp Hartmann	....	massive technical director
Matthew Lee	....	3D artist: Digital Diomension
Daniel J. Lombardo	....	visual effects executive producer: Digital Dimension
Landon Medeiros	....	visual effects production assistant: Digital Dimension
Sarah Mihalec	....	visual effects coordinator: Digital Dimension
Justin Mitchell	....	3D artist: Digital Dimension
Chad Ridgeway	....	roto/paint artist: Digital Dimension
Andrew Roberts	....	lead computer graphics supervisor: Digital Dimension
Ryan T. Smolarek	....	lead compositor: Digital Dimension (as Ryan Smolarek)
Tammy Sutton	....	2D coordinating supervisor: Digital Dimension
Phi Tran	....	3D artist: Digital Dimension
Tommy Tran	....	3D artist: Digital Dimension (as Tong Tran)
Tong Tran	....	3d artist: Digital Dimension
Rachel Leigh Arnold	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O (uncredited)
Jason Bond	....	junior compositor: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Tatjana Bozinovski	....	digital compositor: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Samuel M. Dabbs	....	motion graphics (uncredited)
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
Mitch Gates	....	visual effects technical director: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Benoit Girard	....	visual effects executive producer: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Martin Hilke	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Mark Intravartolo	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)
Justin Jones	....	junior compositor (uncredited)
Anthony Kramer	....	junior compositor: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Paulina Kuszta	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Wing Kwok	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Jeremy Lang	....	head of information technology: Custom Film Effects (uncredited)
Sean Looper	....	pipeline architect: Digital Dimension (uncredited)
Lori C. Miller	....	art director (uncredited)
Robert Rozycki	....	visual effects production assistant (uncredited)
Brian Smallwood	....	compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Ollie Benjamin	....	stunt performer
Richard Bish	....	stunt performer
Julian Black Antelope	....	stunt performer
Marty Black Rabbit	....	stunt performer
Nap Black Rabbit	....	stunt performer
Chance Bruised Head	....	stunt performer
Tim Bruised Head	....	stunt performer
Wynn Bruised Head	....	stunt performer
Wright Bruisedhead	....	stunt performer (as Wright Bruised Head)
Shawn Calf Rope	....	stunt performer
Sonny Clegg	....	stunt performer
Chad Cosgrave	....	stunt performer
Colt Cosgrave	....	stunt performer
Sandra Crowchild	....	stunt performer
Joe Dodds	....	stunt performer
Lyle W. Edge	....	stunt performer
Wyatt Erikson	....	stunt performer
Jim Finkbeiner	....	stunt performer
Billie Fortier	....	stunt performer
Holly Fortier	....	stunt performer
Joseph Fox	....	stunt performer
Kelvin Fox	....	stunt performer
Jason Glass	....	stunt performer
Tom Glass	....	stunt coordinator
Albert Goulet	....	stunt performer
Ernie Jimmy	....	stunt performer
Jackson Jimmy	....	stunt performer
Douglas Kootenay	....	stunt performer
Dallas Leather	....	stunt performer
Roger Lewis	....	stunt performer
Michael Linklater	....	stunt performer
Jacey Mah	....	stunt performer (as Jacey Ma)
Dillon Meguinis	....	stunt performer
Leonard Provost	....	stunt performer
Ty Provost	....	stunt performer
Roberta Quintana	....	stunt performer
Greg Schlosser	....	stunt performer
Desai Walkingbear	....	stunt performer
Dwayne Wiley	....	stunt performer
Brent Woolsey	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adshead	....	key grip
Colin Allen	....	lamp operator
Chris Bang	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Stephen Berkman	....	still photographer: period photographs
Harold Bernard	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Gilles Corbeil	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jarrett Craig	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Tim Dutchak	....	gaffer
Greg Fullalove	....	grip
Schane Godon	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Shane Head	....	generator operator: facility
Chris Kosloski	....	grip
Corey Lee	....	grip (as F. Corey Lee)
T. Dean Merrells	....	best boy lighting (as Dean Merrells)
Tim Milligan	....	dolly grip
Rik Milner	....	grip
Larry Portmann	....	focus puller: "a" camera (as Laurent Portmann)
Annabel Reyes	....	still photographer
Alison J. Stewart	....	best boy grip (as Alison Rigby)
Kelly Strong	....	camera loader
Mike Tomiuk	....	lamp operator
Tim Arasheben	....	first assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)
Gilles Corbeil	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Rhett Miller	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera (uncredited)
John Trapman	....	aerial director of photography (uncredited)

Casting Department
Candice Elzinga	....	casting: Canada
Rhonda Fisekci	....	casting: Canada
Leigh French	....	adr voice casting
Jeff Ham	....	casting associate: U.S.
Alyson Lockwood	....	extras casting
Zahn McClarnon	....	adr voice casting: Lakota
Martina Smyth	....	casting associate: Canada
Chris Ippolito	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill Blackie	....	co-assistant costume designer
Devora Brown	....	truck costumer
Quynh Chestnut	....	costume first hand
Judy Darough	....	cutter (as Judith Darough)
Karen Durrant	....	costumer
Nancy Jones	....	background costume coordinator
Judith Marie Loewen	....	costumer
Lizzie McGovern	....	costume breakdown artist
Susan Montalbetti	....	costume breakdown artist
Nancy Prevost	....	costume coordinator
Micheline Rouillard	....	co-assistant costume designer
Diane Routly	....	set costume supervisor
Sharon E. Templeman	....	costumer: extras
Leslie Tufts	....	costumer
Naomi Wise	....	costumer
Katherine Dover	....	set costumer: Los Angeles re-shoots (uncredited)
Eileen Gano	....	costumer (uncredited)
Fran Murphy	....	key set costumer: Los Angeles re-shoots (uncredited)
Ute Porath	....	costume props (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Nori Chia	....	post-production coordinator
Sean Kallis	....	post-production assistant
Joe McJimsey	....	assistant editor (as Joseph McJimsey)
Kevin O'Connor	....	digital intermediate color timer
Tom Reagan	....	assistant editor
Rui Martins	....	telecine operator (uncredited)
Jessica Schulte	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
George S. Clinton	....	conductor
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	musician contractor (as Debbie Datz-Pyle)
George Doering	....	musician
Ray Espinola Jr.	....	associate music supervisor
Mike Flicker	....	supervising music editor
Rick Giovinazzo	....	orchestrator
The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra	....	musician: score performer
Carlton Kaller	....	temp music editor
Suzie Katayama	....	orchestrator (as Suzy Katayama)
Steve Kempster	....	score recordist
Steve Kempster	....	scoring mixer
Evyen Klean	....	music supervisor (as Evyen J. Klean)
Ernest Lee	....	digital music engineer
Bobbi Page	....	choir contractor
Bryon Rickerson	....	music editor
Raymond Schnurr	....	music preparation
Michael Spears	....	musician: singer, massacre prayer song
John Two-Hawks	....	musician: native american instruments
John Two-Hawks	....	musician: singer
Gina Zimmitti	....	musician contractor
Matt Friedman	....	music editor (uncredited)
Tom Hardisty	....	score recordist (uncredited)
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist (uncredited)
Scott McRae	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Cathy Barillaro	....	driver
Dwight Beard	....	driver
Mel Brown	....	driver
Sherry Collard	....	driver
Darryl W. Collins	....	driver
Shelley Crooks	....	driver
Fred Dunphy	....	driver
Travis Foot	....	driver
Lawrence Gooch	....	driver
Danny C. Klepper	....	transportation coordinator (as Dan Klepper)
Sergio Lever	....	driver
Pavel Lidmila	....	driver
Tom Lloyd	....	transportation captain
Wayne Luctkar	....	driver
Bruce Mctavish	....	driver (as Bruce McTavish)
Debbie Porter	....	driver
John Woodrow Pound	....	driver (as Woody Pound)
Kevin Simpson	....	driver
Bruce Toy	....	driver

Other crew
Lesia Bear	....	stand-in
Joy Bond	....	production coordinator
Gloria Boucher	....	wrangler
Lori Boyle	....	animal trainer
Lori Boyle	....	dog trainer
Amy A. Brewster	....	wrangler
Christina Buchli	....	Canadian production legal
Michael Buster	....	dialect coach
Sandi Cameron	....	script supervisor
Cameron Chapman	....	assistant production coordinator
Ryan Chatfield	....	assistant chef
Kevin Colyn	....	assistant chef
Marina Crane	....	on-set language advisor: Lakota
Rose Crane	....	on-set language advisor: Lakota
Allison Cruthers	....	craft service assistant (as Allison Crothers)
Allison Cruthers	....	first aid assistant (as Allison Crothers)
Raymond J. DeMallie	....	academic advisor: Indiana University
Jordan Dodds	....	wrangler
Troy Dorchester	....	wrangler
Brian Dunne	....	assistant location manager
Colin Eskeland	....	wrangler
Joe Fisher	....	wrangler
Bruce Flewelling	....	wrangler
Kim Gawryluk	....	second assistant accountant
Linda Gee	....	accounting clerk
Jim Gilfillan	....	location assistant
Jan Gillan	....	first assistant accountant: payroll
Peter Gurr	....	security coordinator
Steven Hanulik	....	trainee production coordinator
Penny Ann Hardage	....	assistant: Mr. Thayer and Ms. George
Michael Her Many Horses	....	consultant (as Michael Her-Many Horses)
Edsel Hilchie	....	location manager
Connie House	....	craft service
Connie House	....	first aid
Frederick E. Hoxie	....	historical consultant
Shirley Irvine	....	craft service assistant
Shirley Irvine	....	first aid assistant
Lloyd Jacobson	....	wrangler
Mark K. Jones	....	wrangler
Shawn Lauder	....	wrangler
Tilda Long Soldier	....	cultural advisor: Lakota
Darryl McDonald	....	consultant: ghost dance
Kylie McLean	....	wrangler
Tim McLean	....	wrangler (as Tim R. McLean)
Tobi McLeod	....	wrangler
Ryan Monaghan	....	trainee location manager
Nathan Mosewich	....	location production assistant
Jeffrey Ostler	....	academic advisor: University of Oregon
Brenda Rampp	....	first assistant accountant: A/P
Allison Red Crow	....	wrangler (as Allison B. Red Crow)
John Rota	....	production staff
Siobhan Rowand	....	production accountant
Christin Scholten	....	assistant: Mr. Simoneau
John Scott	....	head wrangler
Kerry M. Scott	....	on-set technical advisor
Clayton Smith	....	wrangler (as Clayton D. Smith)
Jay St. Louis	....	assistant location manager
Vance Wagner	....	chef
Charlie White Buffalo	....	language advisor (as Charles White Buffalo)
Lee White	....	wrangler
Russ Wideman	....	wrangler (as Ross Wideman)
Jess Willard	....	wrangler
Brian Willoughby	....	wrangler
Ken Zilka	....	wrangler captain
David Benning	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Chris Cinnamon	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Curtis Cripps	....	production assistant (uncredited)
K. Lynn Martin	....	additional script supervisor (uncredited)
Tory Mell	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Angelique Midthunder	....	adr voice (uncredited)
David Midthunder	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Jason Nolan	....	location scout (uncredited)
Tracey Roulhac	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Randy Sexsmith	....	production assistant (uncredited)
David Steinberg	....	legal (uncredited)
Rebecca Thornell	....	script clearance (uncredited)
Amanda Troop	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• HBO Films (presents)
• Wolf Films
• Traveler's Rest Films

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO) (2007) (USA) (TV)
• HBO Hungary (2008) (Hungary) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2008) (Greece) (DVD)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (HBO3) (limited)
• Nova Cinema (2009) (Greece) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2009) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects
• Digital Dimension (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Cal-B-Ques Catering  catering
• Canada Film Capital  tax incentive consulting services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• DeLuxe Toronto  dailies telecine
• Eastwood Scoring Stage  score recorded and mixed at (as The Eastwood Stage)
• Fujifilm  filmed on
• Negative People  negative cutting
• Note That Score  music preparation
• Owen & DeSalvo Company  post-production accounting (as Owen & DeSalvo)
• Right Lobe Design Group  titles and photomontage design
• Soundtrack  DVD commentary
• Todd-AO Studios  score recorded at (as Todd-AO Scoring)
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound editorial and re-recording
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-13 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

HBO Films

Trivia:

August Schellenberg previously played Sitting Bull in both "Witness to Yesterday" (1970) and Crazy Horse (1996) (TV).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Charles Eastman is sitting on the floor, you can clearly see that the soles of his boots are made of man made material with a modern tread design, not the smooth leather soles you would expect to see in the nineteenth century.

Quotes:

Charles Eastman:My dear Senator Dawes, as I believed you sincere in asking me to keep you informed, I write you again in an appeal for your assistance. With no medical equipment here worthy of the name and understocked in medicines, there has been little reason for the sick to risk the journey to the agency for treatment...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Stand with Courage

The Story Speaks Louder Than This Film

BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE is a somber retelling of the events leading up to the massacre at (what is now) the Wounded Knee Memorial. But this isn't a documentary. This is a made-for-TV fictional retelling, and it is the "made-for-TV" bit that makes this important American event lose some of its composure.

The entire production flags because of the TV aspect, many of the film shots losing their impact either because of lack of attention to detail or funds (or probably both). Either way this could've been an extreme visual recollection for most viewers but instead it lacks the depth I would've liked to have seen.

Regardless, there are some stellar appearances and acting within it. August Schellenberg as Sitting Bull undeniably has the most impact. Recent movie viewers will probably remember him from his portrayal as Powhatan in THE NEW WORLD. The contrast between the character in The New World and here in Wounded Knee shouldn't be lost, either. Without Powhatan and Pocahontas, the white settlers at Jamestown would've perished within the first few winters. And now, in Wounded Knee, it is the white man who destroys what is left of Native American life; a terribly stark (and bloody) reality.

The other notables are Adam Beach (FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS) as Charles Eastman, and Aidan Quinn as Senator Henry Dawes. They spend a lot of time together on film and they played against/off each other exceptionally well. Charles being the "new wave" Indian who melds into the white man's way of life until exposed to reservation life at Pine Ridge. Henry Dawes seeing himself as "The Great White Savior Of The Indians" by passing legislation that loops a few nooses around the necks of the Plains Indians' way of life without even realizing it.

But other actors have little to offer. Anna Paquin (X-MEN) as Charles' white love interest (and eventual wife) is seen too infrequently so the relationship between the two has little impact. She does a good job of acting but the script stymied any possibility of real success. From here the acting dips into the drab and boring. I have to give mention to Senator Fred Thompson (currently a Republican runner for the U.S. Presidency) who plays President Ulysses S. Grant. We see maybe four frames of film with him in it and then he's gone. This surprised me greatly since it was Grant's administration that doomed Native Americans by rounding them up and placing them on reservations.

Despite my misgivings about the script, cinematography and acting, this is a vital story that needs to be told, and it isn't something that is normally taught in grade school or higher. Europeans (us) conquered this land and its people, and pushed them into holding pens where they, to this day, await justice for our multiple treaty violations and massacres of their men, women and children (I will say that the scenes depicting large-caliber rifle bullets ripping through young kids was filmed well and was equally hard to watch).

So the story gives this film a higher rating than anything within it, which is unfortunate, as this terrible moment in American history needs to be remembered just as much as Germany needs to remember its holocaust.