For this newsletter, I will review the 1999 movie, "Grey Owl."
Quoting from the Apollo Guide review: Based on a true
story, Grey Owl introduces us to an earnest young guide
and trapper in the wilderness of 1930s Canada. Grey Owl
(Pierce Brosnan) is a circumspect fellow. He says little
about anything – nicely fitting the stereotype of the
strong, silent North American Indian. Although he generally
lives in seclusion, Grey Owl does journey to where white
folks congregate, to work as a guide or perform for
tourists (he’s got to make a living, after all). One of
these trips nets him a beautiful female admirer, Pony
(Annie Galipeau). Pony is a young Mohawk woman whose
family (Graham Green, as her father) has tried to wipe
out their roots. She’s curious about her background and
heritage, so is inspired by the pride the blue-eyed Grey
Owl (he’s a half-breed, he reports) takes in his connection
with the land and his own history.
Grey Owl struggles, first to get Pony out of his life,
and then to reconcile his work as a trapper with his
growing concern for the fate of Canada’s dwindling beaver population. He
writes articles on wilderness preservation
and then a book. His career peaks with a trip overseas
to Britain, where he makes a big impact. He’s on top of
the world, but he remains a mysterious fellow." We learn
that Grey Owl was adopted into an Ojibwa family when
his parents died. His family is one of the things that
he does not want to discuss.
The movie features some nice scenery and a fair amount
of wildlife. Part of the focus of the movie is how Grey
Owl transforms himself from a eat-what-you-hunt hunter
to an environmentalist who wants to protect wildlife.
The DVD version of this film features some short movies
made of the real Grey Owl and his beaver friends.
The film spends some time on the trials of any culture
to survive, and function, within another, larger culture.
Graham Green's character says: "Pony has this 'Indian
bug,' wants to live like her ancestors. You can't turn
back the clock, that life's over." He wants her to go
back to the big city and get an education. She wants
to learn about the old ways from Grey Owl, even if he
isn't Mohawk.
The movie is punctuated with lots of untranslated "native
language," as the captioning calls it. It does have a
somewhat authentic feel to it. Richard Attenborough
(Gandhi) is the director. As a young boy, he actually
attended one of Grey Owl's lectures in England. The film
has more of the feel of his brother David's work. David
is a naturalist, and his style has rubbed off on Richard.
You will recognize a few faces in the background. Floyd
Red Crow Westerman and Saginaw Grant play old Sioux chiefs
who thanks Grey Owl for his work to protect the wilderness.
Floyd's character tells Grey Owl that men become what
they dream, and he has dreamt well.
One of the delemas Grey Owl must face is playing a "dress-
up" Indian in order to support himself. This problem becomes
more pronounced as the movie progresses. I have heard many
modern day people discuss this dichotomy. Many non-Indians
are curious about the "old ways." So am I, for that fact. Unfortunately,
this interest can become a self-fulling wish
for some. Many people expect Indians to wear feathers and
live in teepees, even when their tribe's "old ways" never
included such activities. Grey Owl's promoters/publishers
want his to adopt a war bonnet and other trinckets of
different cultures, because this is what the unknowing
public expects. In more that one way, Grey Owl must decide
if he is the ultimate "wannabe" or a man still looking for
his true self.
The real Grey Owl wrote several books and articles the were
far ahead of their time regarding the protection of the
environment. However, some of his character flaws blinded
many people to his message.
Both Brosnan and Attenborough could be working on bigger
projects. The subject matter of this movie, and the man
it is based on, obviously meant something to them personally.
A exploration with any good search engine ( "Grey Owl" Canada )
will reveal LOTS of websites on this interesting, and complex person.
While the movie has some flaws, it is worthwhile if
for only reminding modern people of Grey Owl's environmental concerns.
You can buy a copy of this movie, or of the book, through the links below. Click on the title for information, click on "Buy" to order a copy.
Click on one of the underlined phrases below to go to that page.
