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Broken Rainbow

Play trailer Poster for Broken Rainbow 1985 1h 10m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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In 1983, President Ronald Reagan's controversial Secretary of the Interior James Watt sold coal leases on federal land in New Mexico and Arizona to developers for exploration and mining. Thousands of members of the Navajo tribe lived on this land, part of their ancestral homeland, and were forcibly relocated away from their homes. This documentary examines this and other injustices in the U.S./Navajo relationship. Narrated by actor Martin Sheen, the film won a Best Documentary Feature Oscar.

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times If a documentary cannot convince us of its basic journalistic accuracy, then it is just opinion and polemic, and the material might have been treated more effectively as fiction. Rated: 1.5/4 Nov 2, 2018 Full Review Walter Goodman New York Times The Navajo case, as presented here, is forceful enough not to require foolish embellishment. Dec 16, 2017 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dispelling any thoughts that the Indians should ever expect to get a fair-deal from the federal government. Rated: A Dec 11, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Best Documentary Oscar winner in 1985 is a bit dated by today's standards but still historically important. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member This documentary chronicles the numerous broken treaties that have crushed Native American culture and destroyed their homeland. First, I guess I have to say that I agree with this film's thesis: the U.S. government has fucked over the Native Americans and we as Americans are complicit in anti-Native injustices. That said, this film sucks. Its presentation of this thesis is bland, repetitive, and maudlin with a repeating song that might as well be a broken record over the broken rainbow. Overall, agreeing with a film isn't all it takes to make a good film. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member A riveting & ultimately very sad story of the 10,000 American Indians forced to be removed from their land which was inland America. This Documentary really portrays their connection to the land & how their identity is intertwined with it. The are amazing people of grace the American Indian & despite their years of persecution they are still full of integrity. The really shows how cruel the US Government was too them & the hole in the heart it caused to the American Indian. It was so tragic what the Government did to suck the resource they needed from their land it's a very sad yet touching Documentary. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Didn't they get enough flak when the Europeans came over. Jeez Louise leave the poor bastards alone. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member What a great video! I never knew that this happened to these people! The Gov't should correct their wrong doing! Alot of people made money on the backs of these people. This video should be aired for the world to see!!!! Again 5 stars, well done! Renee from Maryland Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow. This paints a really bad impression of the white man's greed! It's really a downer. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Broken Rainbow

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1983, President Ronald Reagan's controversial Secretary of the Interior James Watt sold coal leases on federal land in New Mexico and Arizona to developers for exploration and mining. Thousands of members of the Navajo tribe lived on this land, part of their ancestral homeland, and were forcibly relocated away from their homes. This documentary examines this and other injustices in the U.S./Navajo relationship. Narrated by actor Martin Sheen, the film won a Best Documentary Feature Oscar.
Director
Maria Florio, Victoria Mudd
Producer
Maria Florio, Victoria Mudd, Roslyn Dauber
Screenwriter
Maria Florio, Victoria Mudd
Production Co
Earthworks Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 11, 2009
Runtime
1h 10m