Loved the film. Violent and tender, both. A troubling detail about a minor but pivotal character: why did the canny indigenous tracker Avanti sacrifice himself to save the kid? … the father-daughter reunion near the end hinged on the Native American’s decision to take on four or five armed men in that 1776 group. We did witness Avanti hunt down an activist for the Christmas Adventurers, seen by two kids he doesn’t threaten. And he “doesn’t do kids,” but it was a big leap from those two clues to his dying full of bullet holes in the doorway. Was this a cartoonish nod to Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans? (Played by the same actor, Eric Schweig.) At least that suicidal lunge at the bad guys was believable. I’d have thought Avanti would go all in but with stealth. Hmmm …
Becca, there’s a more clinical term for Avanti’s behavior: Moral Injury. When a person feels complicit or guilty for grave moral offenses, it will eventually break them, and many explode in ways that attempt some kind of redemption. Usually involving suicide. [check out @Michael Valdovinos on this] The guy who blew himself up in a Tesla in Vegas was suffering from moral injury. Avanti was a poster boy for this condition. Just one of so many “caricature” portraits in this film that are truer than true.
Ah me. This is a long and important thread to follow, Aimee. No wonder Avanti's role and end are so haunting. And the other caricatures you note, which we're left to ponder. The wounding goes so deep. Thank you for these bread crumbs. xo
Hi Becca, My friend Katie Gee Salisbury answers this in her great piece about the film, and I agree with her: a lifetime of swallowing the unvarnished racism spewed at him finally snaps something in Avanti. The bad guy becomes a good guy. (A reversal of the stereotype of the flip-flopping mixed race person who can’t be relied on!)
I just watched this movie today, and I knew I had to go back and read your article about it. I've never really thought so much about the outer drama and inner conflict and how they weave in and out of each other until your deep dive here.
I found this explication immediately applicable to my stories ( memoir) and inspirational…i want to start inserting the drama into the construction and watch the work light up. Thank you for the “spoilers” cuz I never would have given this movie a second thought…now I am curious if only to see how your analysis plays out!
Loved the film. Violent and tender, both. A troubling detail about a minor but pivotal character: why did the canny indigenous tracker Avanti sacrifice himself to save the kid? … the father-daughter reunion near the end hinged on the Native American’s decision to take on four or five armed men in that 1776 group. We did witness Avanti hunt down an activist for the Christmas Adventurers, seen by two kids he doesn’t threaten. And he “doesn’t do kids,” but it was a big leap from those two clues to his dying full of bullet holes in the doorway. Was this a cartoonish nod to Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans? (Played by the same actor, Eric Schweig.) At least that suicidal lunge at the bad guys was believable. I’d have thought Avanti would go all in but with stealth. Hmmm …
Becca, there’s a more clinical term for Avanti’s behavior: Moral Injury. When a person feels complicit or guilty for grave moral offenses, it will eventually break them, and many explode in ways that attempt some kind of redemption. Usually involving suicide. [check out @Michael Valdovinos on this] The guy who blew himself up in a Tesla in Vegas was suffering from moral injury. Avanti was a poster boy for this condition. Just one of so many “caricature” portraits in this film that are truer than true.
Ah me. This is a long and important thread to follow, Aimee. No wonder Avanti's role and end are so haunting. And the other caricatures you note, which we're left to ponder. The wounding goes so deep. Thank you for these bread crumbs. xo
Hi Becca, My friend Katie Gee Salisbury answers this in her great piece about the film, and I agree with her: a lifetime of swallowing the unvarnished racism spewed at him finally snaps something in Avanti. The bad guy becomes a good guy. (A reversal of the stereotype of the flip-flopping mixed race person who can’t be relied on!)
https://halfcastewoman.substack.com/p/the-mixed-race-body-in-one-battle?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
Thanks, Aimee! I so appreciate you leading me to Katie and Half Caste Woman. I love her post, and I commented, and I know I'll read more of her. xxoo
Her posts are rich! And she’s writing a book on Mixed Race America. It promises to be fascinating.
I just watched this movie today, and I knew I had to go back and read your article about it. I've never really thought so much about the outer drama and inner conflict and how they weave in and out of each other until your deep dive here.
I found this explication immediately applicable to my stories ( memoir) and inspirational…i want to start inserting the drama into the construction and watch the work light up. Thank you for the “spoilers” cuz I never would have given this movie a second thought…now I am curious if only to see how your analysis plays out!
This movie is profoundly affecting. It deserves the same status as Dr Strangelove!