Skins (2002)

An inspirational tale about the relationship between two Sioux Indian brothers living on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation.

Director:

Chris Eyre

Writers:

Adrian C. Louis (novel), Jennifer D. Lyne

Stars:

Eric Schweig, Graham Greene, Gary Farmer

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Schweig	...	Rudy Yellow Lodge
Graham Greene	...	Mogie Yellow Lodge
Gary Farmer	...	Verdell Weasel Tail
Noah Watts	...	Herbie Yellow Lodge
Lois Red Elk	...	Aunt Helen
Michelle Thrush	...	Stella
Nathaniel Arcand	...	Teen Mogie
Chaske Spencer	...	Teen Rudy
Joseph American Horse	...	Panhandler
Wilda Asimont	...	Neighbor
Dave Bald Eagle	...	Old Soldier
Bruce Bennett	...	Medical Examiner
Robert A. Bennett	...	Officer Comes Running
Gil Birmingham	...	Sonny Yellow Lodge
Joe Black Elk	...	Drill Team Member #1

Storyline

Rudy Yellow Lodge is an investigator with the police department and witnesses firsthand the painful legacy of Indian existence. Although rampant unemployment, alcoholism and domestic violence are the norm for many reservation inhabitants, Rudy has largely escaped this cycle of despair. His brother Mogie, however, has not. Now faced with the discovery of a bloodied body, a flaming liquor store just off native land that sells millions of cans of beer a year to the native population, and his brother's ongoing self-destruction, Rudy goes on a quest to avenge himself, his family, and his culture and to seek justice.

---

Plot Keywords:

watching tv | violence | pine ridge indian reservation | police | liquor store | 

---

Taglines:

The Other American Heroes.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Em Busca de Identidade

Filming Locations:

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,439, 29 September 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$238,987, 15 December 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

First Look International,Starz! Encore Entertainment,Aboriginal Peoples Television Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several of the police officers were drawn from actual local police and law agencies.

---

Goofs

A drunken Mogie attempts to shoot a beer can with his shotgun as Rudy approaches. Near the end of the scene Mogie drops the shotgun and it discharges, hitting the beer can. Rudy picks up the shotgun and breaks open the chamber; there are however no spent shells evident in the shotgun.

---

Quotes

Mogie Yellow Lodge: Well, maybe there is one thing you can do for me.
Rudy Yellow Lodge: What?
Mogie Yellow Lodge: Help me blow the nose off George Washington at Rushmore.

---

Connections

Referenced in Rich Hall's Inventing the Indian (2012)

---

Soundtracks

NDN KARZ
Written & Performed by Keith Secola
Courtesy of Akina Records

User Reviews

As realistic as can be

The story reflects reservation life as it is: sometimes laughter is the only means of survival the people have. It depicts the conditions as they are, not only on the Pine Ridge reservation but on most of them. Graham Greene has given an excellent performance as did Eric Schweig. The special sense of humor, often only understood by the Natives, does not take away any of the gravity of the plot.

Chris Eyre has once again managed to produce an excellent combination of the spiritual and the down-to-earth life in SKINS, and he has grown to become a synonym for true Native American films.

SKINS is both entertaining and causing the viewer, though mainly those familiar with reservation life, to think about the situation which has been persisting ever since Columbus.

SKINS has revived memories of my own stays at South Dakota reservations. The world needs more films like this one so that people will come to understand that the Natives of this land are not living in teepees anymore nor do they wear bunkskin and feathers all day long.

SKINS gives a critical and true reflection of life on a reservation in the twenty-first century.