Woman Walks Ahead

Can Jessica Chastain do any wrong? Every project she chooses has beauty and sophistication.

I'm saddened by the ignorant and imprudent reviews which I read this week. Especially someone calling it "listless". The ongoing hype on action movies and the many dialogues in movies have seemingly numbed the senses of the average moviegoers as they cannot anymore feel without touch, hear without words and see without movement.. The movie contains so many touching moments, relatable characters, an emotional bond between the leads, a sensitive approach to a dark material and a stunning cinematography which will make me watch the movie again on the big screen.

Since the topic on Native American rights, Standing Rock and pipelines is as relevant as ever, this movie is of great importance and should not be treated as a forgettable indie film - Shame on the so-called critics.

The Native Americans are treated and depicted respectfully by giving them character traits, letting them speak in their own language and showing their bond with nature and their understanding of life. In all movies about Native Americans which I watched, there has always been strong violence, humiliation and vulgarism. Noteworthily is the final shot of a white horse dancing upon hearing a gun shot accompanied by Jessica Chastain's painting-like suffering on the ground - with her loose and long hair which emphasises her long-awaited freedom ! So happy to finally watch a female Western about Native Americans, which is as beautiful as a Romantic painting and as touching as an elegy.

Knowing nothing of the story upon which this film centres, I have since viewing same been led to learn more about the treatment of Sitting Bull and his people leading up to the human tragedy of the massacre at Wounded Knee. Obviously this beautifully shot movie with its understated wonderful music score and very strong performances of lead characters, has left a deep impression. Justifiably, some reviews here have found fault with the story's historical inaccuracy such as the age of the two major characters. It seems that dramatic licence is always a component of movies based on real events. But this should not detract from all too real emotions engendered, not only between the artist and her subject but by the embittered townsfolk who see Sitting Bull and his people as true savages. A film of beauty to be recommended.

There's an emotional sense to the film, the images, direction and dialogue have a honest but poetic tone. Cinematography was beautiful. And it's a tragic and moving subject. The destruction of a varied and rich culture, the nations and the resignation of these indigenous people. I felt the profound loss through the character of Catherine Weldon, the determined painter who was captured by the spirit of Sitting Bull while trying to capture him in paint.

The performances were noteworthy, I always like the projects chosen by Jessica Chastain and Sam Rockwell. And Michael Greyeyes has a lot of charisma portraying Sitting Bull especially with scenes with Jessica.

However, the story does lack in some pacing and factualness. The story was a very loose representation but it still makes it's point in the theme. Some have suggested this a white savior movie and it may well be. Yet, one doesn't take away a sense of pride in any of it. It's still a white story, just a sad and not particularly flattering one.

This film is very good but it deviates from the facts to such an extent it seems like an entirely different film. Why create a different story. Weldon was divorced, not a widow. Her $ came from her mother, not her father. She was part of the National Indian Defense Association, not an innocent painter. She had a son, who went with her. etc. etc. The real story is just as compelling, maybe even more so.

Well done historical story line between native Indian Chief Sitting Bull and New York socialite and artist Catherine Weldon. The landscape of the western plain fields where the native Indians main food source the buffalo were driven into near extinction, and the Indian reserves were lacking of any form of prosperity painted a picture of how the United States military power were still struggling with the embarrassment of General George Armstrong Custer's complete annihilation in 1876 at Little Big Horn made famous by Sitting Bull's victory and known as Custer's Last Stand.

Jessica Chastain plays American socialite/portrait painter Catherine Weldon and she is desperate to paint the portrait of the great Indian Chief Sitting Bull played exceptionally well by actor Michael Greyeyes. Their friendship grows out of their respective and very different upbringings and life histories as well as their respective stubborn personalities. The symbolism of the white stallion Rico who was given to Sitting Bull by the great westerner Buffalo Bill is not lost on the audience as Catherine Weldon's childhood fear of horses (thus her preference to walk everywhere) is eventually defeated, ironically so is Sitting Bull to whom the audience is sympathetic towards the plight of the Native Indian(s).

This is a simple yet historically valuable film that as I plopped the disc into our Blu Ray player very late at night even Mrs. Shullivan watched intently never falling asleep (which she would normally do) as both of us enjoyed the performances by Jessica Chastain, Michael Greyeyes and Sam Rockwell as well as the historical value of this moment in time in the year of 1890.

I give the film a credible 7 out of 10 IMDB rating.