The Tonto Woman (2008)

A white woman is kidnapped from her home by Apache Indians. Traded to the Mojave Indians, she lives as a squaw for 11 years until she is found by her husband. Unfit for society he keeps her... See full summary »

Director:

Daniel Barber

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (story), Joe Shrapnel (screenplay)

Stars:

Sam Douglas, Charlotte Asprey, Richard Brake

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sam Douglas	...	Bonnet
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charlotte Asprey	...	Sarah Isham
Richard Brake	...	Isham
Lola Garcia	...	Ramona Halloran
John Golightly	...	The Priest
Duncan Marwick	...	Clyde
Dan Mullane	...	Tom Halloran
Una Nicholson	...	Waitress
Francesco Quinn	...	Ruben Vega
Lex Shrapnel	...	Springfield

Storyline

A white woman is kidnapped from her home by Apache Indians. Traded to the Mojave Indians, she lives as a squaw for 11 years until she is found by her husband. Unfit for society he keeps her in a shack in the desert. Her solitary existence is transformed with the arrival of a Mexican. He befriends her, reignites her self-worth and increases her confidence. He re-introduces her to her husband and leaves. As he is leaving town he is ambushed by her husbands men and there is a gun-battle. Who lives and who dies?

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Plot Keywords:

shooting | cattle rustler | female nudity | confession | topless woman | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama | Romance | Western

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Knucklehead, Little Mo Films, Rose Hackney Barber

Technical Specs

Runtime:

35 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The 80th Annual Academy Awards (2008)

User Reviews

Who is the better Christian?

The Tonto Woman (2007) was directed by Daniel Barber, and is based on a short story by Elmore Leonard. This is an extraordinary short film, and, quite properly, was nominated for an Oscar.

Charlotte Asprey plays Sarah Isham--a beautiful woman in the 19th Century west who was kidnapped by Indians, and was horribly mutilated with tattoos (?scars) around her mouth. Her husband, who loved her, has spent 11 years trying to find her. Once he finds her, he's horrified by her appearance and by the fact that she is no longer his pure, virginal wife. Her husband has isolated Sarah in a cabin far from his ranch, where she's ogled by the ranch hands and visited by no one.

Francesco Quinn plays Ruben Vega, a Mexican-American cattle rustler who comes across Sarah's cabin, falls in love with her, and then has to decide what is the best way to help her.

The movie begins and ends in a small Catholic church, where the priest, a good enough man and sincere churchman, hears Vega's confession. Clearly, Vega, the thief, is the better Christian.

We saw this film in a theater. I think it will work on a small screen, but the emptiness of the dry countryside surrounding Sarah's cabin may not be as evident.

P.S. Pay close attention to the statue of the Virgin.