2017 what films are you watching?

DH and I watched "Wind River" last night. I was a little skeptical because it seems when shows get high ratings, I still can be disappointed. This was fairly depressing, but I thought it was interesting. It's about how a fairly young FBI agent gets sent to Wyoming to investigate a young Native American woman's death. It was on an Indian reservation. She needs the help of a Fish and Wildlife officer to help figure this homicide out. I'd never heard of the actress (Elizabeth Olsen). The Fish and Wildlife guy was Jeremy Renner. It was good to see Graham Greene again. I could watch it again.

I thought Wind River was one of the most moving films I've seen in years. We'll probably go see Lady Bird this week.

I missed Wind River when it was in the theaters, but plan to see it.

Cathy, Elizabeth Olsen is the beautiful and talented sister of the skinny/no talent Olsen twins. She always looks luminous and they always look grey and sickley.

I think what depressed me the most about Wind River was the very true statement at the end of the film, something about no records of Native American women that go missing. That is so true. We work closely with a small village on Standing Rock in SD and go up there 3 times a year. The drug abuse, the depression, the suicide rates are so high, and girls do go missing. I've heard many families say "oh she's of age, she probably went to MN". There tends to be a chain reaction of suicides right after graduation every year. There's no hope for a brighter future, they feel they've "peaked" then they see the "honor" and huge funeral the recently departed youth gets so they decide to end it too.

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Originally Posted by Float On

I think what depressed me the most about Wind River was the very true statement at the end of the film, something about no records of Native American women that go missing. That is so true. We work closely with a small village on Standing Rock in SD and go up there 3 times a year. The drug abuse, the depression, the suicide rates are so high, and girls do go missing. I've heard many families say "oh she's of age, she probably went to MN". There tends to be a chain reaction of suicides right after graduation every year. There's no hope for a brighter future, they feel they've "peaked" then they see the "honor" and huge funeral the recently departed youth gets so they decide to end it too.

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Oh, that's horrible! What do you think is the root of the problem? I ask that seriously. :(

I think it was in the "bonus" section of the movie, where I saw that they decided at the last minute to add that comment. I had never heard about that happening........that many missing young Indian women are never reported as missing.
It sounds like it's not as if no one cares.........but that it's in the culture that when young people leave, it's because they are old enough to make that choice. But still........
And like Ben (Graham Greene's character as the sheriff) quoted "This isn't the land of waiting for back up. This is the land of...you're on your own." Maybe in those huge areas where there isn't much help.....you don't always ask for help.

Funny, I usually end up liking a moving less, the more days that go by after seeing it, but with this one, I like it more. I think I'll rent it again. There were a few things I missed.

CathyA, the root of the problem is they are waiting. Waiting for a handout that will "make it better". They really do blame history for today. There is no hope. No willpower to work hard and make a better life. They take the easy way out - drugs. Drugs and alcohol are the number one problem. Tribal policies are also full of problems. A man we know needed a new roof. He had to go through tribal council to get approved, then could only use the roofing company the council approved (council's nephew) which showed up the first day took payment and worked a half hour needed more supplies and never came back. When they get money (government payouts) they blow it all. Last payout we saw a ton of brand new trucks in the village. They'd all made down payments but didn't know how they were going to make the rest of the payments (most all were repo'd). They may have a big screen TV but a hole the size a cat can come and go in the side of their house. We've been going for 14 years. We've seen very little long term improvement in what we've "invested". The community we help only has what they have because of our donations/time/skills. Several in our group have lost hope about our long-term efforts so I'm not sure how much longer we'll be involved the way we've been. What we've done will blow away with time and wind. The improvements we've made on community buildings will rot unless we or someone else comes in to make an effort. They will not.


I'll probably watch it again too. The landscape was beautiful.

Wow Float On.........that's really unfortunate. Sounds like it's really not working for them. Sort of reminds me of the newer generations of Amish. The younger ones don't seem to have that work ethic any more. Unfortunate.

About the movie.......I forgot to add one thing that I didn't like. I thought the music was too loud and too dramatic at times. It sort of up-staged the scenes. It was like they were using the loud, dramatic music to boost the feelings about the scenes......and they really didn't need to do that.

Back to the Indian poverty and laziness........do you think that's just like so many non-Indian peoples in the U.S. have become? Do you think they have a victim role stuck in their heads and it works against them? Is there a lot of crime coming out of these areas? Do you think their feelings are like how some of the young blacks in this country feel?.....like they've been wronged and are owed? (because of slavery)?

Does your group ever get to the point where you feel like you should just let them go and stop helping them? Are they appreciative when you help? Are there no jobs in these areas?
Sorry for all the questions, but you're about the only person I know that comes in contact with them. I appreciate your openness about it.

Indian casino licensing seems to have provided some financial power to many tribal situations. Any possibilities there.

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Originally Posted by Williamsmith

Indian casino licensing seems to have provided some financial power to many tribal situations. Any possibilities there.

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In this area they are not industrious. There is one casino in poor shape...
Actually other tribes that I've talked to when I say we're working with X in SD they mention first how they just sit up there and wait, not trying to better themselves. They have no skills, no artists or craftsmen. When they try to sell you something it's not pottery they've made or earrings they silversmithed...it's a broken laptop or TV they stole. I sound so down on the area right now. Sorry. It's beautiful land, it has incredible history and past leaders in the native nation. CathyA when we first started going there was definitely no trust, they were victims and wanted to see what they could get before we left, we've been there the longest both financially and with improvements and relationships. As soon as we leave it all slips back into hopelessness.

That's really sad. Sounds like your group has tried it's best, but they're not using your help as a stepping stone. :(
It must be very frustrating for you.