Review Of The Movie Indian Horse

I always like the film by Stephen S. Campanelli, and the film Indian Horse is no exception. The film was set in 19th century, when Canada government compelled native Indian children to have the white’s transformation in residential school. And a kid called Saul Indian horse fell in love with hockey and showed his talent, but was discriminated after he joint the professional team, and how he finally get out of the shadow. It is actually a very good movie for various reasons. First, the story chosen is believable. In addition, the movie reflects the social issue back in the 19th century. Then, the reasonable ending is another good point. In the first place, one key reason for judging this movie a good one is that the story is believe. At the beginning of the movie, there are subtitles explaining the policy residential school, followed by the scene Saul and his family escaping. But during the escape, he lost all his family members: Saul’s bother died and his parents went back to bury him, and Saul’s grandma died on their way. Finally he was captured by whites and sent to a residential school. The reason for the family to run away was to enable their kids not suffering in the school (Saul’s brother escaped from the school). The escape of the family demonstrated how dangerous the residential schools were for aboriginal kids, and also foreshadowing that Saul would be in residential school for his youth. What’s more, the residential schools were one of the represents of the social problems at that time.

Besides the believable setting and reasonable story, the movie explores the social issue at that time period. When Saul grew up, he became an excellent hockey player. But every time he played or won a goal, the audience boos at him. The condition got worse when he got into the team Toronto. His teammates are not willing to cooperate with him, while his enemies bulling him by breaking the rules. Finally, Saul could bear no more and quit playing hockey. It is so sad that such a good player was ruined by being bullied and overlooked by others. And how ironic it is that people treat differently depending on their skin color. That must be the reason for Saul to speak “it is their game, not ours.” not only in the games, but also in the society the aboriginal people faced challenges. In the film Saul and his friends were beaten when they went to the bar. And similar things happened everyday, since the white didn’t even treat them as the same species. It is also worth mention what happened after Saul left the hockey team. In terms of the ending of the film, it is so good an ending that even if I were able to manage a different end, I wouldn’t. Saul became a wanderer, and drunk everyday. His life became aimless. Finally, his body could no longer let him to do so, he went to the health center (where he was shown at the beginning of the movie). At that place people with similar pass, spoke out their experiences to get a relief. After a long silence Saul finally spoke his (which is everything in the movie). After that he left and went to places he had been like the lake, the school. And finally he went home. In this depressing plot, I can feel how hopeless Saul had been. And after he spoken out his story he became a little better.

In conclusion, I would say that this is an excellent film overall. The film contained a fair starting, and it told the audience the conflict between people and society, and had a perfect ending, which respond the beginning. To tell the truth, Saul’s experience was good compare to other aboriginal people, for instance Lonnie, who is Saul’s friend, lived like a beggar for the rest of his life. What’s more lots of them even suicide when they are young. The film alarms us to treat nice to others and respect the culture.