Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)

Tarnished American History

I have read a great deal about the shabby treatment of American Indians by the US government and found this movie to be consistent with most of the well researched books on the shelves. Inaccurate presentation of facts is never good, but whatever they might be here, they did not detract from the overall power of the film to tell the truth. Aidan Quinn did a good job of expressing the tremendous conflict Dr. Eastman experienced as well as his inability to completely work through the anger he felt at having to give up the foundation of who he was. A worthwhile movie that demands a thoughtful response. July 27, 2008

Painful watch.

This well made docu-drama was painful watch as the saga reveals stages of one of the most hideous dealings with a proud culture in American history. After the battle at Little Big Horn where Custer makes a touchy situation far worse, treaty after treaty is broken and a young Sioux doctor is forced to bear witness to the unfair treatment and tragedies experienced by his people. Great performances and the old photos that periodically move across the screen bring an added heart-wrenching portrayal to the viewer of a proud people who were reduced to desperation.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author July 16, 2008

Not like the book.

This movie is not like the book and they explain why in the special features. The book is various accounts put together to make a book. The movie has a solid storyline. There are two profanity spots very near the begining that are extreme and not needed. What a tragedy! I am saddened by the history of the Native Americans. This movie is part of a great story of injustice that will never be made right. July 6, 2008

Misses the point

As some other reviewers have mentioned, this movie just does not live up to the title. If a person is a student of this time period, they may be able to follow the movie. If not, its nothing more than a Hollywood movie about Indians getting the shaft yet again. This is a story much more complex than a two hour movie can portray. Not only that, but there are numerous characters in the movie who appear frequently, but are never even named. Someone familiar with these events can rationalize guesses on many of the characters' identity, but in general, I would have felt thoroughly confused if I knew nothing about this.

The topic of the Dawes Act is one that few average Americans know anything about, and it is an extremely important event in the history of the American west and Native/White relations. They should have changed the title and focused more on that. I felt that the dates and events were very scattered throughout the film and that many pieces of evidence were left out. Would Sitting Bull not have had some idea Crazy Horse was going in to the reservation? What about Sitting Bull's time in jail? Why briefly mention Bill Cody and the dancing white horse? Why only give 2 minutes of Wounded Knee? Who really brought the Ghost Dance to the Lakota?

Perhaps, the next time somebody attempts to make this movie, they'll either make it more historical or more theatrical. Nice try, but not what I was looking for. June 17, 2008

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

An outstanding account of a most unfortunate, emotional & historic issue.
Worth every one of the 17 award nominations given to HBO. April 3, 2008

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