DreamKeeper

I was frankly shocked to see something this good on commercial TV. A great story, great acting, great cinematography, and so true in every detail. How it ever got by the ABC execs I'll never know, since it's just miles ahead of the usual garbage they present. Of course it tanked in the ratings, but I don't think it was promoted too well. The one gripe I had was the constant and lengthy commercial breaks that thoroughly broke up the flow (well, I guess that's how they paid for it...). How about PBS picking up the actors, crew, consultants and writers for a series? Yoohoo, Ken Burns where are you??

As a Native American I hate movies that play out the old "cowboys and Indians" theme, which severely limited the "indian" movies I would watch. I am SO GLAD to FINALLY see a movie that shows Native Americans as we are in real life rather than the traditional depiction as scalp-seeking-savages, tells our stories, and shows how life on the reservation truly is today. This movie (to me,) breaks down a lot of the negative stereotypes made on our people, which are generally fueled by movies. I think it is very important to have movies like this to help dissolve a lot of racial stereotypes, and share our legends with the newer generation. I was amazed when I saw the depictions of stories I had actually heard as a child, growing up in Tahlequah Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation Capitol. I wish all movies could be like this... as a matter of fact, I think i am going to watch it again right now!!!

They did a great job with this movie. Alot of care was put in to ensure authenticity and accuracy, from identifying each tribe with their sacred stories and proper language use to ensuring costumes were correct for tribes and time periods, even down to including the "wannabe" character who tags along through part of the plot. The intertwined theme related to gang activity and violence is also very true. Pine Ridge is one of the toughest places in America to grow up in. With a spiritual attachment to ancestral lands and close family ties, very few people really want to strike out on there own; and with no industry near the reservation, these two facts combine to an 80% unemployment rate. Alcoholism, drug abuse and gang violence make rez life as dangerous as the toughest big city neighborhoods of New York and LA.

This film took several months to produce and employed thousands of Native Americans, from actors and actresses to extras, film crew members and laborers.

The special effects accurately portray imagery of spirit characters without getting engrained in fantasia and the typical new-agey romanticized look-and-feel that some recent Indian movies have (say "Dances with Wolves").

How can I get a DVD or VHS copy of this movie? I want to save this movie and watch it again. There are some great lessons to be learned. I like that fact that these legends are being saved. Like the line from the L.A. Times TV Times Commentary on Dreamkeeper says, "A lot of our elders are passing, and when they pass, people like myself and like my little sister will need to keep the stories alive. I am hoping that the native youth will embrace this, so people will always know we are still here."

Great Indian TV movie. Great performances from almost all of both young and older Hollywood Native American actors/actresses. It's too bad that most of the general public doesn't know these guys's names from Adam but they are all great perfomances in this tele-film. Very cool Native American mythology stories & I'm always into films with the great Eddie Spears and Michael Greyeyes. If you didn't see this when it aired on ABC then check it out when it comes to DVD/Video. Hopefully, one day Hollywood will have a great well-known Native American actor/actress & then hopefully never again will they use Asian,Polynesian or Hispanic actors to play American Indians again. Thankfully, as far as i could tell this film stayed true to the storyline and stories & made sure that they had authentic full to half-blooded American Indian actors. **** out of *****