Broken Rainbow

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Broken Rainbow

1985

1h 10m

Documentary

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3 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

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.

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

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Walter Goodman

New York Times

The Navajo case, as presented here, is forceful enough not to require foolish embellishment.

Dec 16, 2017

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Maria Florio

Director

Victoria Mudd

Director

Martin Sheen

Narrator

Maria Florio

Writer

Victoria Mudd

Writer

Maria Florio

Producer

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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