Reel Injun Film Analysis

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Recommended: Representations of indigenous people in film

"Reel Injun" by Neil Diamond The portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema had evolved further from their real image. It was said that, the cinema was started to film the Indians. They were characterized as “spiritual, noble, and free”. In the Silent Era, they were given a chance to act and direct movies. They're the stars of the shows. It depicts family, unity, brotherhood and only brutal when necessary. But then, as time goes by, their portrayal changed. The Indians were branded as savages. "Stagecoach" was the movie that started it all, it made them look vicious and bad. Then, colonialism started. They were reduced from groups of natives, with different identities and cultures, to just Indians. They were now viewed

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