Independent Lens Season 12 Episode 3 Reel Injun

"Reel Injun" is the third episode of the twelfth season of the popular documentary series Independent Lens. In this episode, filmmaker Neil Diamond takes viewers on a journey through the history of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans in film. Through interviews with Native American actors, filmmakers, and historians, the documentary takes a critical look at how these portrayals have perpetuated harmful stereotypes and perpetuated a legacy of racism and discrimination against Native Americans in American society.

The documentary opens with a scene from the classic Western film The Searchers (1956), featuring John Wayne as a white man on a mission to rescue his niece from a Native American tribe. Diamond uses this scene as a jumping-off point for his exploration of the historical and cultural context in which these films were made and how they have shaped American perceptions of Indigenous peoples.

Throughout the episode, Diamond traces the evolution of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans from the early silent film era to the present day, highlighting notable films and filmmakers along the way. He also profiles Native American actors and filmmakers who have fought against these stereotypes, including Wes Studi, Adam Beach, and Taika Waititi.

One of the main themes of "Reel Injun" is the idea that Hollywood has always portrayed Native Americans as "the other" – as a primitive, savage, and uncivilized people who are fundamentally different from white Americans. Diamond argues that these portrayals have been based on a number of racist assumptions and stereotypes, including the idea that Native Americans are inherently violent, bloodthirsty, and uncivilized.

At the same time, Diamond acknowledges that there have been a few exceptions to this trend in Hollywood filmmaking. For example, he highlights films like "Smoke Signals" (1998) and "Powwow Highway" (1989) as examples of films that have portrayed Native Americans in a more nuanced and empathetic way. Both of these films were made by Indigenous filmmakers, which Diamond suggests is a key part of the solution to the problem of Native American representation in film.

Ultimately, "Reel Injun" is a thought-provoking and often challenging look at Hollywood's history of portraying Native Americans. By examining this history through a critical lens, Diamond encourages viewers to reconsider their own assumptions and prejudices about this often-misunderstood community, and to take a more active role in supporting diverse and authentic representations of Native American culture and history in film and other forms of media.