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Reel Injun

Play trailer Poster for Reel Injun 2009 1h 26m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The evolution of First Nations people in film.
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Reel Injun

Critics Reviews

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Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch 06/25/2010
3/4
Reel Injun is not a peace pipe but a convincing case for a place at the table. Go to Full Review
Mike Hale New York Times 06/18/2010
3/5
Setting off in his barely road-worthy "rez car," Mr. Diamond films a series of bittersweet, and sometimes bitingly funny, encounters. Go to Full Review
Bill Weber Slant Magazine 06/13/2010
2.5/4
The debate over the evolution of the movies' depiction of native peoples is not always on the mark. Go to Full Review
Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine 07/26/2019
A funny, fascinating Canadian documentary that unfolds as a slapdash chronicle... Go to Full Review
Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) 08/22/2017
But in amongst this collection of white actors in red face, and Sicilians pretending to be native elders, something rather remarkable emerges, the means of resistance and telling your own stories endures. Go to Full Review
Jason Gorber Filmfest 09/04/2010
B-
At its heart this is a well made, provocative made-for-television documentary, a mix of movie clips and talking head interviews. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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René M Mar 7 While there are only handful of documentaries that explore the issue of how Hollywood has and continues to portray indigenous peoples in cinema, this Canadian contribution to the discussion opens the floodgates on the long and now often subconscious settler culture that permeates the stories told involving indigenous peoples. It is important viewing, especially for the simple realization that the money behind so many of these stories is the filter on the lens that continues to imbed colonial roots as though there was no story worth telling before the arrival of Europeans. See more 07/31/2022 The greatest 01 hour: and 26 minutes ever with real footage!!!!!! See more 07/16/2017 There are several documentaries like this about racial stereotyping in Hollywood on the streaming service Kanopy, although I think I initially streamed this on Netflix before I had heard of the new Kanopy site through my library. A fascinating exploration of the subject with a lot of movie clips and interviews. The filmmakers and many interviewees are angry at the way First Nations people were/are depicted. You can also see in the trailer and throughout the film that many are able to look at the inherently racist movie industry with a sense of humor and hope for the future. The doc is not narrowed to only looks at Hollywood feature films, but a stand-up comic who worked in the 70s is featured as well as the controversy involving the "crying Indian" from a famous 70s TV commercial. And rather than the filmmakers remaining off screen, native filmmaker Neil Diamond, one of a trio of writer-directors, is shown traveling around to meet interview subjects. He also visits a real-life old west town that let's tourists dress up and live a bit of wild west cowboy fantasy (minus the androids of Westworld). This definitely makes a statement. See more 04/07/2017 This film isn't a quilt trip. It isn't preachy. It's an interesting look at how Indians have been portrayed in film throughout history. See more 03/17/2016 entertaining and fascinating See more 03/02/2016 Friendly reminder: white people are awful. See more Read all reviews
Reel Injun

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Movie Info

Synopsis The evolution of First Nations people in film.
Director
Neil Diamond
Producer
Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick
Screenwriter
Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge, Jeremiah Hayes
Production Co
Rezolution Pictures, National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 15, 2016
Runtime
1h 26m
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