Thunderheart (1992)

A young mixed-blood FBI agent is assigned to work with a cynical veteran investigator on a murder on a poverty-stricken Sioux reservation.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

John Fusco

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Graham Greene

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Val Kilmer	...	Ray Levoi
Sam Shepard	...	Frank Coutelle
Graham Greene	...	Walter Crow Horse
Fred Ward	...	Jack Milton
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	William Dawes
Sheila Tousey	...	Maggie Eagle Bear
Ted Thin Elk	...	Grandpa Sam Reaches (as Chief Ted Thin Elk)
John Trudell	...	Jimmy Looks Twice
Julius Drum	...	Richard Yellow Hawk
Sarah Brave	...	Maisy Blue Legs
Allan R.J. Joseph	...	Leo Fast Elk
Sylvan Pumpkin Seed	...	Hobart
Patrick Massett	...	Agent Mackey
Rex Linn	...	FBI Agent
Brian A. O'Meara	...	FBI Agent

Storyline

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage. Slowly he rejects the intimidating tactics of his fellow FBI agents, who are not so interested in solving the crime as covering up an incriminating situation with the locals, and as he becomes more tuned to his heritage, the locals begin trusting him. Based on actual Reservation occurrences of the '70s.

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Plot Keywords:

murder investigation | ankle holster | ankle | holster | sioux | 

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Taglines:

Two men from different worlds. Two cops after the same killer. Together they must uncover the secrets. Together they must discover the truth.

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and for some areas of violence

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [UK]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Sioux

Release Date:

3 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Coeur de tonnerre

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,507,425, 5 April 1992, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$22,660,758

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures,Tribeca Productions,Waterhorse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A paperback novel published by HarperCollins titled Thunderheart based on John Fusco's screenplay, was released on May 28, 1992. The book dramatises the fictionalised events of the Wounded Knee Incident, as depicted in the film. It expands on the ideas of how an FBI agent's assignment to uncover the truth behind violence on an Indian reservation leads to a wide-range conspiracy.

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Goofs

When Maggie Eagle Bear drives off, another camera crew is reflected in the cars window pane.

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Quotes

Jimmy Looks Twice: I'm a warrior!
Frank Coutelle: [Sarcastically] Yeah, and I'm John Wayne.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Hit (1998)

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Soundtracks

Baby Let's Dance
Written by Ali Olmo & Germaine Franco
Performed by Ali Olmo

User Reviews

Definitely a must see movie

I really wonder why this movie is rated rather low on IMDb (6.5/10 right now). This is a very good movie with a great, but disturbing message, perhaps even more because it was based on real events.

It tells the story of an Indian reservation in South Dakota in the seventies. There seems to be some kind of war going on between traditionalist and progressive Indians. The traditionalists are accused of a murder on an important member of the progressive group and two FBI agents will investigate it. As their investigation goes on, one of them will find out what the real reasons are why he is there...

This is a very good thriller with a lot of Indian mystic influences, but who doesn't close an eye for the reality these people were living in. It has been based on true events, but has been changed slightly because of law suits, but it still shows how the Indians were seen and treated at the time. It's definitely a must see movie and therefor I reward it with an 8/10.