Dreamkeeper (2003)

DREAMKEEPER is a beautiful and powerful film.Shane, a 17-year-old Lakota Sioux who owes money to loan sharks and has all sorts of other troubles on his mind, travels with his 87-year-old grandfather from their South Dakota reservation to an inter-tribal pow-wow in Albuquerque, NM. Along the way, Grandfather spins a number of old myths and tales from the Lakota, Cheyenne, Mohawk, Kiowa, Blackfoot, Chinook-Salish, and several other tribes that teach Shane a great deal about how to approach this life and what follows it. The myths themselves are wonderfully played-out in realistic non-animated fashion, and the 180-minute film is evenly divided between Shane & Grandpa and the stories Grandpa tells. The costume design and settings in the myth sequences are as good or better than those in even the very best western films: DREAMKEEPER truly puts you among the Indians. The cinematography and acting are also splendid throughout. Amazing special effects too.This film could have turned out really sappy, but despite the Hallmark, it's not. The realism is stunning, especially for a made-for-TV affair. Some violence and generally disturbing material, but no serious gore or sex/nudity. Grandpa's tales include everything from the ribald "What's this? My balls for your dinner?" to the transcendent "Quillwork Girl and Her Seven Star Brothers." Both of these tales, along with most of the others, are available in numerous books and websites, but I would particularly recommend American Indian MYTHS AND LEGENDS, compiled and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz and THE MYTHS of the NORTH American INDIANS, by Lewis Spence.

every time i see the movie..tears come into my eyes..... goosebumps allover.... I really respect the native, i wish i was one of them. respect human and animals....I must write 10 line at least, but i think my comment is enough right now! ! ! ! ! !;) :) make more of these movies! show ignorant people how to live right show them to have respect for the older show them to have respect for all the animals, big and small show them to have respect for nature!!!!!!!!!!!! when do we finally realize , the world is dying??!! help others to survive this terrible world..it can be so beautiful!

This movie was the most phenomenal movie I have ever watched in my life .It was a movie I could watch over and over again,It really touched my heart and soul and also brought me closer to my heritage I too am native American and proud of it .The story and talented actors will remain in my heart forever.This movie is not just a one person movie or for one to relate to.Everything about this movie was absolutely breathtaking from the scenery,plots, clothing and again the actors and the story line .It also taught me a few lessons about my family and the things they have taught me over the years .also with now owning the movie I now own the soundtrack and listen to that just as much.It does my heart good to see how there are many others that feel about the movie just as I do .

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."