Neighbors Become Family: Dances With Wolves

    This week in my film class we were given a list of films that had been given academy awards for best screenplay. Some of my options were The King's Speech, Schindler's list, Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King, and Forrest Gump. But I chose something else. Out of all the films on the list, I was compelled to choose Dances With Wolves, winner of seven academy awards including best picture in 1990. Let's take a look at what won those awards. 

     Once upon a time in 1864, Lieutenant John J. Dunbar unknowingly leads his troop to victory in an attempted suicide. They reward him with any post he wants at his request. John decides to go to the frontier. He has always wanted to see it, and intends to see it before it's gone. When he arrives at the soldier fort on the plains that is to be his post, he finds the fort deserted. Since there is nothing for him to go back to, John stays at the fort. Soon John notices a lone wolf that comes close to fort to watch him with interest. After days of the wolf visiting, John names him Two-Socks, since the wolf's front feet are very white. Now John has made the fort his home. When the local Native American Sioux tribe finds him there, they go from suspicious neighbors to very good friends. But will more white men come and put the tribe in danger?

     This film has so much meaning that I couldn't name just one theme. One was finding oneself, and the other, interestingly enough, was Dances With Wolves itself. These themes go hand-in-hand to create the powerful story of Dances With Wolves. When I say Dances With Wolves itself is a theme, I mean the idea of becoming familiar or friends with something you thought was dangerous. When John first saw Two-Socks, he got out his riffle ready to shoot him. But Two-Socks did nothing, thus telling John that he was harmless. Throughout the film, John and Two-Socks form a relationship. Two-Socks still won't eat from John's hand, but he learns to trust him. This is similar to when John came to know the Sioux. He learns their customs, hunts with them, and even learns their language as well as becoming a special member of the tribe. One of the biggest things of all is when the Sioux see John playing with Two-Socks one day. Seeing this, they give John his Indian name: Shumanitutonka ob wachi, which translates into, Dances With Wolves.  
    John didn't seem to have a life before he came to the frontier. He was just a civil war soldier facing amputation on his leg. Luckily, he gets to keep it. But when he comes to the prairie, he finds something he didn't expect to find. What does he find? Love, and a Sioux by the name of Dances With Wolves. 

      Before John arrived on the frontier, Native Americans had been stereotyped as "Nothin' but thieves and beggars". Naturally, the film makers made the Indians look that way from John's point of view. This way we don't really take in their personalities until John actually starts to spend time with them. This can be said for Wind In His Hair. Wind In His Hair at first is very tough. In truth, he is a man who cares for his tribe, friends, and loved ones. To be honest, Wind In His Hair didn't like John when they met. At the end of the movie, their friendship is very strong. In conclusion, the film makers mix the stereotypes surrounding the American Indians at that time period to make a difference when we see their personalities.

        The physical concepts in the film were exceptionally good. The props and various objects were well suited to the time period. This includes the Civil War materials, meaning the military forms and clothing, and everything belonging to the American Indians. If these were crappy looking or cheap, it might make the film more difficult to take seriously. Dances With Wolves is to good to be silly. 

        Dances With Wolves is basically the story of one human finding who he really is through other people. The Sioux named Shumanitutonka ob wachi was a greater person than John J. Dunbar had ever been. It doesn't matter where you come from, or if you're white. The Sioux became John's family, as they did for Stands With A Fist. Previously named Christine, Stands With A Fists's family had been killed by the Sioux's enemy, the Pawnee Tribe. Even though she was white, Stands With A Fist was taken in by the Sioux and became one of them. These relationships are rare, but they are real and can happen. People just have to be more excepting. 

         I can't imagine a negative response coming out of Dances With Wolves. Every film has its flaws, of course, but how can one see the meaning and not like this movie? My response is obviously positive. I was able to relate to it because of something in today's problems: Differences. Differences are the (sometimes hateful) barriers between people. John and the Sioux were both peaceful enough to be willing to pass this barrier and become friends. 
 
         The biggest symbol in this film is John's bond with Two-Socks. They learn to trust each other. They become close enough to play, or dance, together. It took a while, but if you ponder it, John has a relationship similar to this with the Sioux. This is the entire meaning of Dances With Wolves. If you understand this, Dances With Wolves will feel like more than just a film. 

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