Silent Tongue showcases Native actresses

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REVIEW

If you can visualize the Wild West as an Indian medicine show, Silent Tongue is the movie to see.

The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Show is a travelling stage that features society's outcasts. The show travels across the prairie and the performers are musicians, black child dancers, midgets, a wild woman, the paralyzed man with very long curly nails, Velada, an Indian princess trick rider and Eamon McCree, the leader of the show.

Eamon McCree, played by Alan Bases, is a big drunk who sells elixirs to the small crowds that gather around the stage. McCree sells these elixirs on the pretense that the product was obtained from a medicine man. He spends a lot of his time consuming the drink and is always always drunk. He's a repulsive character who finds Silent Tongue, played by Tantoo Cardinal, in the prairie alone. He takes it upon himself to rape her and make her a mother to his son.

McCree and the Indian woman have two daughters together. Since the daughters are Indian, he sells the oldest to Prescott Roe, played by Richard Harris. The daughter, Awbonnie, played by Sheila Tousey, is given to Roe's son Talbot Roe, played by River Phoenix.

Awbonnie dies in childbirth and her spirit haunts Talbot Roe. He is crazed with grief and so his father tries to save him by buying the Velada, played by Jeri Arredondo.

After watching this film, written and directed by San Shepard, I was left with a very somber feeling. The story was weak because of its portrayal of the spirit world. Awbonnie's spirit is vengeful and full of hate. She appears mostly at night, with demonic eyes and a half-rotted face. The conclusion of the film is a little cliche, with daylight and church bells ringing testifying the restful state Awbonnie's spirit is in.

When the film was introduced at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Michael Smith, the director of the recent American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, credited the impressive talents of the Native actresses. Having seen Sheila Tousey as Louise in Medicine River, it was a sharp contrast to her work as the spirit of Awbonnie. Tousey has demonstrated incredible range as an actress and her work is commendable.

The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Show features the trick riding of Jeri Arredondo (Velada). She won the role because the film required a Native American actress who could ride well.

In this film, Tantoo Cardinal plays the tragic title character Silent Tongue, an Indian woman who had her tongue cut out for speaking against the head man of her tribe. She was an early casting choice because of her work in Black Robe and Dances W0ith Wolves. Unlike many of the recent stereotypical movies featuring warriors, this movie gives Native actresses an opportunity to show their stuff. Unfortunately, the Native women are characterized as victims of both white and male power.

Aside from Silent Tongue, sympathy for the family of River Phoenix was expressed. Phoenix died Oct. 31. During the making of this film he had offered his trailer to Sheila Tousey, so she could use the space to get into character.

Silent Tongue will be in Canadian theatres in February.