Powwow Highway (1988) User Reviews

terrific

[mboneill · 8/10 · 5 June 2003]

This film sank into obscurity, and it shouldn't have. An understated and subtle story of personal growth along the quest--it's a standard story, but this film tells it with stark dialogue, cinematography, and characters. Gary Farmer is absolutely convincing, disappearing into his role as the gentle giant completely. A Martinez's Buddy Red Bow is fiery, up to *here* with government treatment of American Indians and closed to sentiment or tenderness. Robbie Robertson's soundtrack is almost a character itself--it's suited to the landscape very well, and its native tones seem to reinforce the spareness of the story and the reservation.

Finding a copy will be really hard, but well worth it.

A Fair Look at Native Life

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 11 November 2016]

Depicts the struggles of reservation-dwelling Native Americans in the North Central United States. The main character is an introspective and lovable person in a process of seeking pride and identity through traditional and mystical means of gathering power. His high school friend, who is a Vietnam War Veteran, is exerting power as a highly principled social activist, using a modern rational materialist adversarial model of progress.

There really are not that many movies out there about reservation life, at least very few that come to mind. This one is excellent, however. Not just because it is a really good movie (which it is), but because of the way it portrays the characters.

It would be much too easy to paint the Cheyenne as the good guys and the "white man" as the bad guy. This is not the case. Certainly, we feel bad for the way big business wants to strip the natives of resources... but the natives are shown as less than perfect, too. Is getting ripped off bad? Of course. But does that make it acceptable to smash a store and beat a store owner? No.

Entertaining and educational drama

[chrichtonsworld · 8/10 · 9 March 2007]

This movie was part of a special I saw on a German channel! Not expecting much I was completely surprised how good this drama was! The story is not that difficult or special but the way it is presented you just have to love it! It is a mix of drama and humor! Like other reviewers I praise the performance of Gary Farmer! But I also want to mention the role A. Martinez is playing! The way he shows his frustration and anger and at the same time be sympathetic is difficult to do! But he pulls it off! There are a lot of matters that don't get the attention when it comes to the United States! The native Americans (indians) ore one of them! As an European I don't know much about their situation! This movie gave me insight in a very entertaining way! From what I have seen on the screen concerning Native Americans (indians) they posses a great sense of humor! Considering what they have been through and what is happening to them now that is simply amazing! I love these kind of stories because they are down to earth and in this case also very funny!

Fantastic film

[kwhatever55 · 17 February 2004]

The opening shot of Reservation poverty cuts right to the problem of a land that should belong to a race of people here before any of us. Its depressing and funny as anything to watch, overall, an independent masterpeice. Anyone researching native Americans should see this film. The question at hand, is whether to think of it as a comedy or drama.

Jimbo

A fun road-trip movie

[vovazhd · 7/10 · 5 November 2007]

Powwow Highway follows the road-trip of Red Bow and Philbert, two Native Americans that are ideological opposites. Philbert attempts to become more connected with ancient Native culture, while Red Bow just wants to protect his land from being taken over. The two characters have a good chemistry between them. The acting is good enough to get the job done, but far from anything special. Philbert makes a really likable character, very much a trickster type. He imagines the world as an ancient land, considering his car as a pony and his trip as a quest. He is a well-crafted character that is quite sympathetic. Red Bow, on the other hand, is pretty hot headed and militant. He goes on the trip to bail his sister from jail. Nonetheless, he makes a good character because you can notice how he changes from the experience.

The plot is plenty of fun. There is comedy mixed with some important messages about American Indian culture. As the plot develops, so do the characters. The second half was a little bit of a miss... there were some very poor special effects and inconsistencies. Some of the editing was very well done, but most of it was bad. The plot gets a little carried away, although never to the point of losing the audience. The end comes very suddenly and felt too open and unrealistic.

In the end, your left with a fun film that also has some cultural value. That it entertains is the most important thing. The messages on Native American culture come behind that, but is a nice touch that puts the movie slightly ahead of the average film. Recommended if your looking for something casual to pass the time.

This movie struck a chord deep inside.

[boogiebass · 10/10 · 8 December 1999]

This film has a lot of heart. Gary Farmer's character is one of the most likeable in recent memory. His dignity, kindness and spirituality are inspiring and endearing. Few films work so subtlely to create such an indelible, sympathetic and wholly uplifting message. Set amid the vile conditions faced by Cherokee reservation natives, the movie has much to say to all about responsibility, justice and above all, love. Can't recommend this film highly enough!

The Gary Farmer Show

[mcnarie · 9/10 · 14 December 2008]

This is an amazing movie. Gary Farmer was given a a role that allowed him to frame the entire film via his performance, and he pulls off a masterpiece. DeNiro very rarely has such luck. While it is incredibly well cast from top to bottom (A Martinez, a charmingly brazen Amanda Wyss, cameos by then-unknowns Wes Studi and the always underutilized Graham Greene, even the seedy car/stereo salesman done dually by Patrick Randal) and each performer knocks on perfection, Farmer takes this to an entirely different plateau.

Roger Ebert favorably critiqued the film by announcing Farmer's performance was "one of the most wholly convincing I've seen", which seems a subtle understatement.

You will not understand this film if you don't get Philbert, the perpetual protagonist Farmer portrays. It's too easy to identify with A Martinez' character, Buddy Red Bow, a hip-shooting realist bent on vengeance. I've been watching Martinez since The Cowboys in 72, and this performance should have given the notice A Level actors deserve.

Unfortunately, the same magic that made the film possible was it's very undoing.

Handmade Films, a pet project by Beatle George Harrison, brought this novel to film. Despite several successful titles (including Monty Python and offshoot ventures), Handmade was spiraling towards bankruptcy, and Powwow didn't perform at the box office because there was no money to push it.

Great art is most often lost.

Don't let your pony throw you. Watch Powwow Highway. Now.

One of the first great NA films

[jjr-9 · 10/10 · 2 November 2005]

One of the great disappointments about most of the films that predate this one and revolve around anything purporting to be about "Native Americans" or "Indians," is the stereotypical nature of the characters (mostly, "noble" and "stoic"). This was one of the first and still is one of the best films that captures the humor that is intrinsic to the culture(s) of most of the Native Americans that I've ever been around. Without this film, "Smoke Signals" might never have been possible, since it broke some much needed ground, helping to end the still prevalent practice of using non-Indians to play Indians.

The great thing about this film is that, like Smoke Signals, it has themes that transcend the merely cultural. Most of the elders I know teach with humor, and this movie captures that beautifully.

It's a movie not to be missed!

Powwow Highway is unforgettable, heartwarming, and a triumph for Gary Farmer.

[pattyjones · 10/10 · 2 July 2003]

I can't say enough about the sheer quality of this little film, so I won't even try. What I will say is that Gary Farmer's portrayal of Philbert was one of the sweetest characterizations I have ever seen, and he's emblazoned forever on my heart. Also outstanding was Graham Greene in a small role as a Vietnam vet suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. A Martinez, who's something of a one-trick pony, was very well suited to his role.

A journey of discovery.

[arvigarus-1 · 10/10 · 19 October 2004]

Lovely movie. Pow Wow Highway is the story of A Montana Cheyenne who takes off in a 1964 Buick to find enlightenment. Joining him is the reservation's political activist, who sets out to rescue his sister from an unjust imprisonment.

Pow Wow Highway is the story of their journey, and in one sense it's a road movie and a buddy movie, but in another sense it's a meditation on the way we understand the world we live in. Philbert Bono doesn't think of a trip to Santa Fe in terms of hours or miles, but in terms of the places he must visit between here and there to make it into a journey of discovery -- to gather Medicine or Spirit Power.

Each character, in the film, looks at life from a different perspective. To Philbert the trip to Santa Fe is his Vision Quest, his coming of age as a man and a Cheyenne Warrior. His vision is clear and uncontaminated by the world, consequently, he is able to achieve communion with the Great Spirit and be transformed into Whirlwind Dreamer, mighty Cheyenne warrior. He does this by being open, honest, and sincere, thereby tapping the potential that always existed within him.

Remarkable movie, and a must see. Gary Farmer is terrific.

Winner of the Filmmaker's Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival.

Pow Wow Highway cuts strait to the heart

[Nayko · 10/10 · 24 March 2000]

"Pow Wow Highway" has the true spirit of independent film making as it pushes aside all the bells and whistles of Hollywood and cuts straight to the heart of the matter. And the heart of the matter in this film is a powerful narrative in the form of friendship and family. "Pow Wow Highway" takes its audience on a humble, but beautiful journey into the soul of two modern Native American friends. The director, Jonathan Wacks, entertains his audience with a simple yet strong story that never goes beyond its deeper sense of Native American spirituality. The characters portrayed by Gary Farmer and A. Martinez create a contrast in ideals and ideologies that give "Pow Wow Highway" a considerable amount of depth and impact that leaves you crying one moment and laughing the next. But it is Gary Farmer's superb performance as Phibert Bono that steals the show and gives this film its most touching and powerful performance. It is to director Jonathan Wacks credit that his camera never strays far from Gary Farmer's character. I found this film to be a bright spot that far out shines the sophistication and capitalistic endeavors of other movies from the same time period. I really believe that the recent success of the independent film movement owes a lot to movies like "Pow Wow Highway." My hat goes off to Jonathan Wack's "Pow Wow Highway" as it is a must see movie that strikes at the heart of good, solid film making.

Gary Farmer's portrayal of Philbert Bono was awesome.

[juliet_1971 · 24 July 2003]

Gary did an outstanding job. The best part of the movie was when Philbert went to go and wake up Buddy and was standing there in front of him butt naked. I really enjoyed Imogene's part as well. She did a great job telling Buddy of the weekly shootings and how she and Wolf wanted to move to Denver to escape the problems on the reservation. Buddy and Philbert do go on a beautiful journey to help get Buddy's sister Bonnie out of jail in New Mexico for a drug set up, that she did not know of. They truly are superb actors in this film. This movie could surely wrench anyones heart and bring tears to their eyes. I am so glad that this film was shown in my class...thanks Penny.

One of the many fine movies of the Native American culture.

[Montanagirl603 · 10/10 · 17 May 2006]

My interests are primarily directed toward movies depicting different cultures. I think that this movie has been one that I would watch repeatedly. I admire the Native American Culture and though I am not myself a Native American, I try to read and keep informed on all aspects of their culture. Reservation life has made it hard for some of our indigenous people to find work off the reservation.The spirit that remains for the old culture gives hope for a renewed future. My library consists at the present of several hundred books on the subject of Native Americans. I would certainly enjoy more movies on this very interesting subject.

The film was a little haunting for me.

[MarkW-5 · 8/10 · 16 June 2000]

I had a chance to spend about three weeks on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Lame Deer Montana when I was about 14. That the location for about the first half of Powwow Highway. The film makers really did a great job of capturing the tone of life for many inhabitants of the Reservation. I was also lucky enough to be there during the annual Powwow and when that part of the film came along it brought back many memories.

Are you travelling incognito as a garbage man?

[tieman64 · 4 March 2014]

Directed by Jonathan Wacks, and based on a novel by David Seals, "Powwow Highway" sees the surviving members of a Cheyenne tribe battling greedy strip miners and property developers.

It's a familiar plot, but Wacks approaches things from fresh angles. Structured as a road movie, the film watches as Buddy Redbow (Adolph Martinez), an activist, and Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer), a slow witted bear of a man, hop into a battered Buick and embark on several cross-country adventures.

Most interesting, though, is the way Wacks deals with "what it means to be Cheyenne". Rough and proud, Buddy sees it as his duty to resist what he perceives to be an oppressive white majority, even if this entails tearing himself away from his own tribal and familial customs. Philbert, meanwhile, is a more spiritual Cheyenne, resisting normative and popular white-American values in order to preserve the traditions of his ancestors. In doing so, he's oblivious to the many ways in which he's buying into things that are erasing his people's cultural identity (cheeseburgers, Buicks, chocolate etc). Philbert and Buddy also have radically different views on "wealth". Buddy embraces the coloniser's materialism whilst pretending to reject it, whilst Philbert pays little heed to the social status afforded by objects. Ironically, it is a clip from a Hollywood cowboy movie which allows Philbert to break a friend out of jail, Philbert appropriating the violence of the "cowboy" for his own ends. By the film's climax, both Philbert and Buddy seem to have reconciled, or learnt to acknowledge, their differences; they merge the active with the passive, the inner and the outer, the physical and the spiritual.

"Powwow Highway" runs into a number of clichés, and its climax is pure Hollywood cheese. Still, mixing drama with slacker comedy, identity politics with humour, it remains one of the first films to feature Native American Indians grappling with contemporary issues.

7.5/10 – See Michael Apted's "Thunderheart".

PowWow Highway scene mimics real life antics

[muvynut · 8/10 · 4 January 1999]

I first saw PowWow Highway last year, and one scene in particular made me laugh myself to tears. You may remember the scene where Gary Farmer's character crashes the cars in front and in back of him until his car fits into the parking space. Those of you who know Gary may not be surprised that that scene mimics one from Gary's own illustrious past. As one of his old friends from high school and early college, I can tell you that that particular story is one of many, very funny Gary Farmer stories that his old friends love to recount when they get together. I hope he never loses that incredible sense of humor.