The Little Big Man Film - Movie Review Example

THE LITTLE BIG MAN Directed by Arthur Penn, “The little big man” is a 1970 western film that is based on the novel by Thomas Berger. Its main story is based on a young boy who grew up in the Cheyenne State in some parts of the nineteenth century. The main theme of the film is a contrast of the lives of American life and that of the natives mostly the Indians. This is well illustrated in the manner the west is taken over through the leadership or rather the eye of a white man who lived the life of a Native American. The entire story depicts a story based on a type of allegory that was very stinging and had results that were incredibly bloody and represented American Imperialism. This entire story is told to a twentieth century historian who was believed to be misguided and the storyteller was the only man who survived the Custer Last stand and the only white survivor, Jack Crabb. In my opinion, the film is incredibly satirical with the major scenes full of elements of tragic aspects. The author has his story based on a social conscience that has a clear view on the aspects of injustice and prejudice. This is depicted in the life of Jack after being adapted by the Cheyenne who renamed him little big man and taught him the mannerisms of Christians. The people who adapted him believed that his former way of life was not that which was expected of human beings hence convincing him that the only rightful ways of living was that which they showed him. Jack meets a lot of people who build him in all aspects and also lead him into diverse ways of life, later finding himself as a gunfighter. Considering these aspects, I can conclude that this film is an anti-establishment film with scenes of a protest that involved Americans mostly in the Vietnam War. In these scenes, it is portrayed that the Americans are incredibly inhumane and have many negative aspects. These are all portrayed in the entire movie with the use of the United States Military. In my opinion, the author does not use the Vietnam war to show the elements of war or at the happenings that consisted war, but instead used the characters in the film to show attitudes of Americans towards other people. Take for instance, the moment when Americans shoot out at Indians with the aim of acquiring joy out of the act. In my opinion, this is an inhumane act that is accompanied by tremendous acts of showing racism. These acts can be used to show the attitude of America despite that just a few of them is used in the film. Another good example is the little girl that was executed and the act shown in slow motion. In my introduction above, I stated that the movie depicts a lot of satire. For instance, the aspects that showed that Colonel George Armstrong Custer was a lunatic and his post still continued. Actually he had his leadership based on different ideas that mostly were from observable aspects in then contemporary mannerisms. In the entire film, Custer involved himself in Fatal tactics that were in my opinion exaggerated in the film especially in the manner he handled Indians. Watching the scenes where Custer came across Indian men, it was clear that he had complete hatred for them and was depicted during times of battle. However, it is essential to realize that despite his hatred, he still had human aspects within him that led him to sympathize to causes that led to factors associated with the Indian populations. This is the reason he publicly opposed to the policies that allowed and commanded him to expand their territories into the land occupied by Indians. The little big man represents Americans and the ways they are depicted as crazy and how they can use anything to threaten their juniors, even death. In addition, it can be understood from the film that he represented those Americans that were trouble shooters and always got involved into ideas that were of no good. For instance, his appearance and assistance during the murder of crazy horse completely show his inhumane aspects The battle ensued in Calvary, sees that Jack is captured by the soldiers considered to be whites. They have a plan of knifing him whereby they almost do as they willed because they believed his origin was not as theirs. Actually, Jack is saved when he uttered that his mother and George Washington be saved: and the soldiers learned that he was also white resulting to saving his life. It is essential to notice that if Jack was not of the whites’ origin, he would have been killed. This again portrays the manner in which the Americans have a favor for only their people. In my opinion, the film is aimed at showing the importance of comprehending about ones world and finding the right place. The author and director show these aspects in the different representation of the characters and the roads they take even if it means getting back to the starting point. It is not important changing into what people have in favor. This is well illustrated by Jack who has even lied about not being Indian and changed to suit into Americans lifestyles. However, he does so for some time but still has to return to his original self: then realizing that home is always the best and being an Indian was the only real thing. Watching this film shows many aspects as represented and the manner in which Americans and Indians differ. The movie as illustrated above shows that Indians are the good people while the Americans were rude and incredibly bad. All this is shown in the manner in which the characters were represented and how different Indians or those suspected as non-Americans were treated. Indians are also shown as sexual beings because the author has Indian characters in most of the scenes having sex instances. In addition, it is shown that Americans have a liking for their own people better than any other nations, and once given a chance they turn into animal-like beings. Work cited Little Big Man. Director. Penn Arthur. Performer. Dustin Hoffman. 1970. Word Count-1034 Read More