Four Sheets to the Wind

This movie rocked. Both of Harjo's films have inspired me to think about how to 'live like I was dying' so to speak. Our syllabus hasn't quite yet allowed me to act on my thoughts just yet. Not complaining, joking. Damn syllabus.

Anyhow. As Harjo told us after the screening of "Barking Waters," that one of his priorities and an ideal he has is to depict his American Indian culture, but without having to explain the Indian aspects. For Indians to gain ground in today's society, many, many people must be broken of the conception that American Indians are aliens within our nation to be subject of only documentaries as if extinct. Harjo's ideal is critical in breaking this conception by producing beautiful pieces of contemporary American Indian art, proving that the culture not only exists but has been able to grow and adapt and is now thriving. If not 'thriving' then certainly on the rise.

In being such an excellent piece of film that moved me more than the average movie, and by having a majority Indian cast and Sterlin directing, "Four Sheets to the Wind" is sure to help contemporary American Indian culture get noticed. The film follows his ideal of presenting the audience with Indian culture without explanation such as in the ceremonious burial.