Blutsbrüder

This western from East Germany shows,as could be expected ,a strong anti-American feeling;but with such works as "soldier blue" and " little big man" (1971),the American cinema was also changing and it seems that finally "BLUTSBRÜDER" jumped on the band wagon.

After the first fifteen minutes ,the chase between the Indian and his prisoner- a deserter- recalls Fuller's " run of the arrow"(1956) before the movie imitates Delmer Daves and his classic "broken arrow" (1950),but without that director's knowledge of Indians 'life :for instance,everybody speaks German .

That said ,the movie is endearing and the three principals have presence and plenty of go,particularly the actor who plays Harmonica ,a pacifist idealistic but a bit naive (like all pacifist idealistic people,alas!).A good conclusion,off the beaten track ,which shows that war against oppression has barely begun.Slow motion flashbacks were frequently used at the time,and it dates the movie,but the tragic love story nearly matches that of "broken arrow".

Think "Dances with Wolves" but with a ton of ideological overtones added by the East German communist regime. The movie has an average plot but nice sets and sceneries, shot most likely in Yugoslavia (?). I saw this movie sometime in 1975 or 76, growing up in Czechoslovakia. I remember it being quite boring - even for a 10 year old who wanted to see every cowboy-and-Indian movie in sight. This movie has since all but disappeared - and it is no loss.

After his immigration to East Germany, "Red Dean" was used as a poster child for every propaganda campaign the government could think of, mainly in music and movies. Even Dr. Goebbels would have been amazed.

"Blutsbrüder" is one of the so called "Indianerfilme" which were produced in East Germany.These were westerns which differed from the American ones since they focused on the fate,the adventures and the sufferings of the Native Americans.The white men,on the contrary were mainly presented as mean,cruel and greedy.In other words,the American and the socialist westerns showed two different versions of the colonization of the USA.I don't know which were more accurate in terms of historicity,but the East German westerns were smashing hits in all countries behind the Iron Curtain.In all of the films the main part was played by the Serbian actor Gojko Mitic who became a real celebrity in the socialist countries.From 1966 to 1983 East Germany produced 12 "Indianerfilme".Some of them were really good,others were mediocre.I think that "Blutsbrüder" belongs to the good ones.

The main parts in the film are played by Gojko Mitic and Dean Reed - an American singer,actor and pacifist who made a successful career in the socialist bloc after he had starred in several Italian westerns.He plays the soldier Harmonika who takes part in a bloody massacre in an Indian village.The violence against the helpless women and children repulses him and he deserts from the army.After that he is captured by the Indians but gradually becomes a friend with the tribe and the brave warrior Harter Felsen,played by Gojko Mitic.They both fight against the iniquities of the white men...Yes,the plot reminds of Kevin Costner's "Dances with wolves" and that's really curious.

However,the plot is interesting and the characters are complex:each of the both men changes throughout the film and considers his ideals and convictions concerning such issues as peace,revenge and forgiveness.A nice romantic story is added to the nice scenario.The sceneries, which are actually shot in Romania,are impressive.The music score composed by Karl-Ernst Sasse is outstanding and Dean Reed writes and sings one of his well-known songs "Love your brother" for this film.He and Gojko Mitic make one of the best performances in their career.Without a doubt,"Blutsbrüder" is highly recommendable for all fans of adventure and western films and it is one of the best from the "Indianerfilme" sequence.

Western. A film produced by the East German film studio DEFA, where the main role is played by the Yugoslav actor, "Honored Indian of the Soviet Union", Gojko Mitic. The tenth painting of twelve, which I intend to see and revise. I can say with certainty that this particular western I definitely did not watch, because I would surely remember it, and here is my brief opinion - An unexpected brotherhood of a pale-faced and a red-skinned man. I will say right away that I did not notice the minuses in the picture, but I have some comments that I will express in a separate paragraph, but for now, allow your humble servant to focus your attention on the pluses of this western. So, here they are: 1. The story told - the film will talk about the American soldier Harmonica (played by the famous American actor and singer at that time, with left-wing views, Dean Reed) who, having taken part in another massacre of Indians, decided to desert so as not to accept this participation, on the way he is captured by the Indians, where he is imbued with their culture and customs, and soon becomes a blood brother to the mighty warrior Firm Rock, played by Goyko Mitic. The drama, the twists and turns typical for these paintings await you here. I really got into the story of Harmonica, even though Goiko Mitic takes less screen time here than Dean Reed. Again, insidious Americans are driving out the Indians, not sparing the elderly, women and children. Again a bloody struggle, where the strength and advantage are by no means on the side of the Indians. Once again, the contempt for the Indians from the "civilized" society. Harmonica will go through a difficult path, where he will have to learn a lot and understand himself, and finally decide who he is - with red-skinned or pale-faced. 2. Fights, chases, shootings - there are few of them here, mainly at the beginning and end of the film and I can't say that they are exciting, but they were filmed at a high technical level. Tactics are visible in skirmishes. The fights are intense, dynamic, and the chases are in no way inferior to them. 3. Nature - for the first time in this series of westerns, shootouts and generally dynamic scenes take place in winter, which leaves an imprint on them. I just love winter very much (Winter is coming!), Because I was born when the snow had not yet given way to spring. We filmed nature again in Yugoslavia, the landscapes of which are very reminiscent of North American ones. The views are striking in their virgin beauty, and the operator chose the most successful angles. 4. Music - I really liked it, it has both Indian motives and modern (at that time), which go well with each other. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that Dean Reed himself had a hand in her. Moreover, the opening song, which the singer recorded special for this picture, clearly hints at this. Or maybe not. In any case, the musical accompaniment of this western is at a high level! 5. Entourage - atmosphere, costumes, scenery - as always at the DEFA film studio, serious work on sources, almost documentary reproduction of scenery and costumes, anxious atmosphere of the displacement of the Indians, when the pale-faced people get their way, and the resistance of the Indians only provokes the pale-faced. A little about the main characters: 1. Harmonica performed by Dean Reed is a conscientious American soldier who can no longer participate in the natural genocide of the Indians, and deserts from the army. And soon he will have to learn the world of the Indians from the inside and understand them. Ahead of him are difficult trials that will test his motives and beliefs in practice. The hero is not devoid of negative traits, so that the viewer can associate himself with him. Dean played this hero perfectly, you believe him. Bravo Dean! 2. Solid Rock performed by Goiko Mitic is a mighty warrior of the Cheyenne tribe who hates pale-faced people and does not trust them, adhere to warlike rhetoric (which is right). At first they do not trust Harmonica, but later realizes that not all pale-faced insidious villains. It fights boldly and effectively, using the tactics of sudden and almost silent raids. Goiko again performs all the tricks on his own and shows an excellent acting. Bravo Goiko! Now the comments. Why is there no ending in the picture? What is this setup? There is not even a voiceover that would explain the further fate of the heroes. I can't understand. Chases, fights, shootings - today are no longer able to cause a storm of delight and give a spectacle, as in the year of release, but we will make a discount on the time of release. Well, next time Goiko Mitic will try to get along peacefully with pale-faced people on another continent. It will be in the film "Severino". As a result, we have a good western with the inimitable Goiko Mitic, an excellent script with good drama, excellent and catchy music, excellent surroundings and great acting.