Thunderheart (1992)

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer (WGA):

John Fusco (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

Two men from different worlds. Two cops after the same killer. Together they must uncover the secrets. Together they must discover the truth.

Plot:

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage...

Plot Keywords:

South Dakota | Native American | Neo Noir | Based On True Story | Independent Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Ray Levoi
Sam Shepard	...	Frank Coutelle
Graham Greene	...	Walter Crow Horse
Fred Ward	...	Jack Milton
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	William Dawes
Sheila Tousey	...	Maggie Eagle Bear
Ted Thin Elk	...	Grandpa Sam Reaches (as Chief Ted Thin Elk)
John Trudell	...	Jimmy Looks Twice
Julius Drum	...	Richard Yellow Hawk
Sarah Brave	...	Maisy Blue Legs
Allan R.J. Joseph	...	Leo Fast Elk
Sylvan Pumpkin Seed	...	Hobart
Patrick Massett	...	Agent Mackey
Rex Linn	...	FBI Agent
Brian A. O'Meara	...	FBI Agent

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Sioux

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

In the movie, Val Kilmer plays a character who is 1/4th Sioux. In real life, he is 1/4th Cherokee.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Maggie Eagle Bear drives off, another camera crew is reflected in the cars window pane.

Quotes:

Walter Crow Horse: License and registration?
Ray Levoi: Kiss my ass.
Walter Crow Horse: Hey, this is *my* jurisdiction now. And you were going 59 in a 55 zone.
Ray Levoi: Let me see the radar.
Walter Crow Horse: I don't need no radar, I can tell! I just listen to the wind; it said, "Fifty-nine, nail 'im!"

Movie Connections:

Featured in Last Action Hero (1993)

Thunderheart : the American Indian lives on in American Soul

Watching Val Kilmer execute a brilliant performance is not only entertaining, to say the least, but moving.

Kilmer comes to grips with his 1/4 Sioux background and with the forces of "civilization" as an FBI agent. The forces of civilization are the infamous greed and corruption, or "special interests" as some politicians prefer to use. The Sioux are accused of proud but reckless. They're right about the pride. What is omitted by the forces of civilization is the honor of these people.

Particularly engaging is the mysticism of the Sioux. FBI agent Ray Levoi (Kilmer) is gradually absorbed by this mysticism (as can be the audience), and opens greater insight into the real conflict.

While probably the majority of Americans cannot claim Native American heritage, surely, the land can. And belonging to the land, as Americans, that heritage must be ours as well. This film inspires one to feel such thoughts and feelings, especially if we feel attachment to (and presumably, love for) this land, America.

One most interesting observation about owls: one character says to Levoi, the FBI agent, "the owl is the messenger; it means somebody's going to die." That is a common interpretation in Mexico too, surely brought down by its Indians, the common vision there being that of a barn owl (lechuza, in Spanish).

This mysticism is very powerful in this film. I recommend it for quality acting performances, and high spirituality.