Apocalypto (2006) ****1/2

What Apocalypto really comes down to is an incredible cat-and-mouse picture: that was Mel Gibson's primary intent and he blasted that bulls-eye. Set during the decline of the vast Mayan civilization before the arrival of the Spanish missionaries, the story basically follows a tribesman named Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) whose tribe faces violent rapture by another tribe and is led to be a sacrifice for the god Kukulkan. Shortly after, the chase ensues and winds down to pure action; in terms of genre, there really hasn't been a chase as memorable as this one in a long time but undoubtedly, it comes at the cost of exploring the depth of Mayan advances in civilization.

This movie and The Fountain by Aronofsky sparked an interest in Mayan peoples for me and prompted me to discover more about them in general. I was in awe by how advanced and sophisticated they were culturally and scientifically before their first signs of collapse in the 8th/9th centuries; also, the fact that the period of Mayan culture that was depicted in this movie was during its decline was equally shocking considering how massive it seemed in the film. I honestly believe the Spanish would've grown restless and defeated had they faced the Mayans during their peak as it took them nearly two centuries to subdue the Mayans substantially.

Yet, for all its strengths, the one aspect I found disagreeable was the quote from Will Durant that opens the entire movie:

"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within."

It's a foolhardy statement that attempts to justify the fall of an entire way of life.* I believe there's some truth to it but there were ultimately so many vital factors at work, it'd be foolish to try and pin it down to one such statement - no matter how eloquent. But in context with Gibson's perspective on the Mayan collapse, a case can definitely be made for such words.

Much can and has been said about the historical inaccuracies but I feel the structure of narrative film is more about experience than it is dates and facts. And Apocalypto is undeniable in that sense: like 2001, we are stranded in uncharted territory - free to roam or drift as we please. Just as colonists and missionaries considered their world new, so this is a new world for our senses.

*Descendants of the ancient Mayans as well as their cultural/ethnic identities still persist to this day.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) ****

Wes Studi as Magua

Based on the 1936 film adaptation of the same name, The Last of the Mohicans originally derived from the classic American writer James Fenimore Cooper. Directed by the incredibly consistent Michael Mann and starring such talents as Daniel Day Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, and Wes Studi, this film was unsurprisingly impressive. It takes place during 1757 in the midst of the French and Indian War in which the French and British fought for control of the American frontier; the French employed natives to aid them in their conquest. The film itself is an excellent period piece of adventure and action made with great attention to detail and aesthetic realism. It's a nice treat to see Russell Means have a relatively significant role in the movie also; I always thought of him as an activist for natives first and foremost but his acting was respectable. But the real standout is Studi whose fierce performance as the Huron Magua is a defining example of the kind of fire and heart that is characteristic of just about every role he's played to date; he embodies a natural warrior spirit that carries over to the screen with such passion and intimidation that few actors possess.

But the gripe I have with this film - and its novel for that matter - is that the title itself is entirely fictional. The Mohicans still exist to this day although they are now collectively named the Mahicans. Since their contact with the Anglos, their people faced an unusually strong conversion to Christianity by Protestant missionaries and have since settled primarily in the state of Wisconsin away from the Hudson Valley they originally resided in. The other problem I have is that the Huron (aka Wendat) are mostly portrayed as unrelenting savages of war with murky motives and allegiances. The fact of the matter is, many tribes engaged in warfare against other natives and the Huron were not unique in this regard. The Huron were actually devastated by the Iroquois who had allied with the British. So despite the impression one may get from watching this film, the Huron were not truly against the English but only on the grounds that the rival Iroquois were in alliance with them.

Smoke Signals (1998) *****

Smoke Signals is arguably the most complete embodiment of what the native American identity has grown to be. Both Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) and Thomas Builds-the-Fire (Evan Adams) serve as what I would deem "common" native personalities at the outset of the twentieth century; Victor is a stern and hardened free spirit distrusting of others (particularly whites) whereas Thomas represents a man deep in his roots and an open heart for all.*

Much like of ancient oral tradition, the film opens like a campfire in its narration and recounts a fateful event on the 4th of July involving Victor's father Arnold (Gary Farmer) and they celebrate with fireworks and alcohol; it becomes obvious what you see and what you hear are not one and the same and from there the story unfolds and inevitably reveals the truth. The writer-director Chris Eyre adds a light touch of comedy and insight to the seriousness of its resolution making for that "sun-dried" cinematic style that's becoming a staple flair of native films. Definitely impressive from a filmmaker not only making his debut but also being the first native to produce, write, and direct a feature.

Another brief yet significant performance was done by Irene Bedard who plays Suzy Song in the picture. A radiant spirit of natural beauty, she somehow makes the truth palatable: instead of perceiving the father as an abusive brute, she makes it possible to see him as a well-meaning but troubled figure. And this can go a long way in how one sees the telling night depicted. Eyre did well to cast her in this role as she serves as a great contrast when facing Victor.

If there is one film I'd recommend first and foremost exploring native cinema, this is the post to start from. From here, others will fall into place.

*Note: It is not my intention to generalize native personalities as I'm sure there are plenty who are neither of these.