Kevin Costner premiered the first installment of his tetralogy, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1, a film set in the American West during the Civil War and which hit theaters on June 28. The premise delves into complex themes such as the representation of Native Americans and the violence of the time, proposing a new vision of the western genre.
Horizon has meant an enormous sacrifice for Costner, in addition to considering it a huge source of pride in his legacy as a filmmaker. However, the first installment of the project has not had the expected performance, with barely 40% approval on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and a 7.3 rating on IMDb, leaving it seen as a “mediocre” to simply “good” film. ”.
Part of the criticism that the film has generated is for the representation of Native Americans. Historically, this genre has tended to fall into two extremes when portraying native peoples: on the one hand, it has painted them as faceless, unmotivated antagonists, perpetrating acts of violence against European settlers. On the other hand, it has idealized them as selfless and heroic figures, willing to immolate themselves for the benefit of the newcomers.
Costner not only directs, but also co-writes, produces and stars in the film. His character, Hayes Ellisonis intertwined with the stories of other characters such as Frances Kittredgeinterpreted by Sienna Millerand Taklishiman Apache incarnated by Tatanka Meanswho seeks to protect his family.
The focus on the Native American perspective is reflected from the beginning of the feature film with A massacre in the Horizon settlement carried out by the Apacheand then delve into the lives of the native characters.
“I’m tired of everyone trying to be so delicate about things.“Costner told the magazine Entertainment Weekly, explaining his desire to present a more realistic and complex perspective on Native Americans. For this, the production had the Consulting with Native American culture consultants and Native actors who learned the White Mountain Apache dialect for their roles.
And I add: “[Los nativos americanos] They were upset. I don’t feel like I have to [coger de la mano a alguien]‘My God, here we go again. The Indians are the bad guys.’ Of course They are not the bad ones. But if you’re going to limit yourself, if people aren’t willing to see something develop, I don’t know what to say.”
Horizon: An American Saga It is set in 1859, just before the start of the Civil War, and according to the historian Megan Kate Nelsonauthor of The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the Westraises the question of how the conflict also affected the western territories.The Confederacy was interested in controlling the West for its gold mines and Pacific ports.seeking to establish a nation from coast to coast,” Nelson said.
In addition to exploring westward expansion, the film It also represents the presence of Chinese workers in the region. Although Nelson clarifies that in reality many of them established their own businesses, the inclusion of these characters seeks to add another layer of complexity to the historical story.
From his western Dance with wolves 1990, Costner has known the genre closely, although this time he did not intend to make another film that idealized the era: “I didn’t intend to make another film that looked at the era as a simpler time.”.
Costner’s intention is to show the complexity of the period and the conflicts between the various groups, an effort that he himself acknowledges as fraught with challenges when representing the Native American perspective.I don’t claim to be the best person to do it exactly.”, admitted the filmmaker. However, he insisted that he intends to explore the West without fear, comparing his approach to that of the settlers themselves.
The narrative follows several characters on their journey to the Horizon settlement, including Hayes Ellison and Taklishim. The latter, played by Tatanka Means, an Apache trying to protect his family, reflects the importance Costner places on authentically depicting Native American anger as part of a more realistic portrayal.
“Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey through a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of the families, friends and enemies, all trying to discover what it really means to be the United States of America,” reads the official synopsis.
The film saga, whose second installment, Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2due out August 16, has sparked debates about historical representation and violence in film.
