Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)

A historic chronicle based on the book by Dee Brown explains how Native Americans were displaced as the United States expanded west.

Director:

Yves Simoneau

Writers:

Daniel Giat (screenplay), Dee Brown (based on the book by) (as Dee Alexander Brown)

Stars:

Aidan Quinn, Adam Beach, August Schellenberg

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 29 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anna Paquin	...	Elaine Goodale
Chevez Ezaneh	...	Ohiyesa / Young Charles
August Schellenberg	...	Sitting Bull
Duane Howard	...	Uncle
Aidan Quinn	...	Henry Dawes
Colm Feore	...	General Sherman
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	President Ulysses S. Grant (as Fred Thompson)
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	...	One Bull (as Nathan Chasing Horse)
Wayne Charles Baker	...	Jacob
Brian Stollery	...	Bishop Whipple
Shaun Johnston	...	Col. Nelson Miles
Gordon Tootoosis	...	Chief Red Cloud
Billy Merasty	...	Young Man Afraid
Morris Birdyellowhead	...	American Horse
Eddie Spears	...	Chasing Crane

Storyline

In the 1880s, after the U. S. Army's defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, the government continues to push Sioux Indians off their land. In Washington, D.C., Senator Henry Dawes introduces legislation to protect Native Americans rights. In South Dakota, school teacher Elaine Goodale joins Sioux native and Western-educated Dr. Charles Eastman in working with tribe members. Meanwhile, Lakota Chief Sitting Bull refuses to give into mounting government pressures.

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Plot Keywords:

native american | reservation | massacre | 19th century | lakota tribe | 

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Taglines:

The Epic Fall of the American Indian

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Genres:

Drama | History | Western

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Wounded Knee Project

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Wolf Films, Traveler's Rest Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Soon after the infamous Oscar rejection speech which featured Sacheen Littlefeather, Martin Scorsese approached Marlon Brando about starring in " Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee". They worked on a script for several months but it failed to materialise.

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Goofs

When Charles Eastman is sitting on the floor, you can clearly see that the soles of his boots are made of man made material with a modern tread design, not the smooth leather soles you would expect to see in the nineteenth century.

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Quotes

Henry Dawes: We cannot allow a return to incivility.
Charles Eastman: Incivility? And what has civility earned them, might I ask? Trained nurses? Even one hospital?
Henry Dawes: All things the Sioux will provide for themselves, Charles, once this plan has passed. As you yourself agreed - they must adapt.
Charles Eastman: Must they adapt, sir, to the point of their own extermination?
Henry Dawes: Extermination? I suppose you say we've exterminated your Indian heritage rather than provided to you the benefits of an entire civilization?
Charles Eastman: Senator, please sit. Sir, if ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008)

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Soundtracks

Happy Times
Written by Gabe Desrosiers
Performed by Wayne Charles Baker

User Reviews

Look, we need to own up to what we did to the Indians.

Does "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" go overboard on trying to humanize its subjects (or making them palatable to a TV audience)? Whether or not it does is beside the point. The point here is that we white people have to own up to our genocide against the Indians and theft of their land. Even if it takes a less-than-masterful movie like this one, something needs to remind us of that. The movie focuses specifically on a Sioux (Adam Beach) who takes the name Charles Eastman and studies medicine, but upon seeing what the white people's westward expansion does to his people tries to get Sen. Henry Dawes (Aidan Quinn) to listen.

I recommend it just because it shows what happened to the Indians. I repeat: we white people need to admit what we did and start atoning for it. Also starring J.K. Simmons, Wes Studi, August Schellenberg and Anna Paquin.