The Only Good Indian (2009)
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58% of users liked it
(97 ratings)
Filmmaker Kevin Willmott offers a bitter, revisionist look at the conventions of the traditional western in this powerful drama. Nachwihiata (Winter Fox Frank) is a teenaged Native American boy growing up on a farm in Kansas in the early 1900's. Nachwihiata's peaceful life is shattered when… More Filmmaker Kevin Willmott offers a bitter, revisionist look at the conventions of the traditional western in this powerful drama. Nachwihiata (Winter Fox Frank) is a teenaged Native American boy growing up on a farm in Kansas in the early 1900's. Nachwihiata's peaceful life is shattered when a handful of renegades capture the boy and take him against his will to a juvenile home for Indian children, designed to indoctrinate them into the ways of white Christian America while putting them to hard labor. Nachwihiata is given a new name, Charlie, but he doesn't care for it or the brutal treatment handed out at the school, and he runs away. A bounty is soon posted for Charlie's return, and Sam Franklin (Wes Studi) sets out to find him. Sam is a Native American who has turned his back on his heritage and become an Indian tracker who aspires to be "whiter than the white man." However, Sam isn't the only one looking for Charlie; McCoy (J. Kenneth Campbell) is a sheriff with a bitter hatred of Indians who wants the bounty for himself, and has no qualms about killing Sam to keep him out of the way. The Only Good Indian received its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kevin Willmott
- Written By
- Thomas L. Carmody
- Genres
- Western, Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 16, 2009 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
The reach of Lawrence filmmaker Kevin Willmott (C.S.A.) exceeds his grasp with The Only Good Indian.
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Cast
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Wes Studi
as Sam Franklin
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Winter Fox Frank
as Nachwihiata/Charlie
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J. Kenneth Campbell
as McCoy
- Blake Robbins
- Christopher Wheatley
- Delanna Studi
- Kevin Geer
- Kip Niven
- Laura Kirk
- Paul Butler
- Thirza Defoe
