WAR PARTY

US, 1989, 97 minutes, Colour.
Billy Wirth, Kevin Dillon.
Directed by Franc Roddam.

War Party is a melodramatic action story, an allegory about relationships between white Americans and the Indians. It shows a massacre of the 19th century and makes a transition to the place of Indians in 20th century society. It shows them on the edges of towns in Montana, their adapting to the 20th century world. However, at the time of a re-enactment of a battle, tensions surface and there is a clash reminiscent of the battles of the past. There is some insight into American antagonism towards the red man as well as insight into the Indian traditions, the changes in the 20th century.

The acting is good - led by Billy Wirth and Kevin Dillon as the two key Indians. The film is colourful, action-packed - somewhat simplified for the sake of the movie in its presentation of the confrontation, yet a symbol of the clash. The film was directed by Franc Roddam, director of Quadriphenia, The Lords of Discipline.

1.Impact? A piece of Americana? Race relationships, Indians, violence?

2.The use of Montana locations, the town, the planes and the mountains? Rugged beauty? Action sequences? Re-creation of period, musical score?

3.The title, the Indian traditions, the group making a war party, their code in brotherhood, the war party in action?

4.Racial themes and the viewpoint of the film? The 19th century, its heritage? 20th century? The action of the film as symbolic?

5.The credits, the 19th century battle, the tomahawk being taken by the white man, posing for the photo (and later seeing these in the museum)? The transition to the 20th century and Sonny driving the car? The parallels with the ending, Sonny dead as a warrior, the tomahawk, the military man taking it, the freeze-frame?

6.Sonny and Crystal, going to get Skitty, his car, in the shop, the preparations for the wedding? Ordinary 20th century Americans? The medicine man and his drinking and their mockery? The plans for the wedding, the family interests, clothes, bookings?

7.Sammy's father and mother, their home, his father's place in the city, the phone call from the mayor and his subservience, tensions at home? The Indians and their place in the town, Indian organisations? Collaboration with the civic development of the town?

8.The incident at the pool hall, the game, white versus red man, angers? Violence? The setting for the re-enactment? The governor and the mayor present? The build-up to the re-enactment?

9.Audiences enjoying the battle, Calvin and the use of real bullets, his vengeance, killing Lewis? Sonny and his anger, the killing of Calvin? The confusion, the Indians riding away? Immediate reactions?

10.The pursuit of the group, by helicopter, the shootings and the pilot killed by the arrow? The redneck group, the father taking his son, the reluctant mother? The shootings? The scalping? The taking of the body back and its being in the morgue (and photographed by the journalist)? The three of the war party, in the terrain, the bond between them?

11.The governor and his handling of the situation, the mayor and his concern, the police, the Indians and their responsibility? Reservation lands? The handling of the situation? The calling in of the tracker, his posse? Motives, skills? Seeing the techniques for tracking? The attack on the group, the seemingly dead Indian and the violence? The collapse of the tracker?

12.The three amongst themselves, going to the bar, risking recognition, their girlfriends? The escape, the shooting, on the horses, the wounded man, his death, the burial - and his attack on the pursuers?

13.The governor, authorities, calling out the National Guard? Arriving at the mountain, the bargaining with the medicine man, his coming by helicopter, his medicine, thunder and lightning, the message to the two men? That they be warriors? War-paint, the horses, coming down, their being massacred?

14.The character of Sonny, his place in society, high school education, job, prospect of marriage? Indian traditions? Taking the tomahawk from the museum? Skitty and his boxing, his girlfriend? His bravado? Crystal and Skitty's girlfriend? High school, preparation for marriage? Dreams dashed?

15.The role of the media, television, the headlines? Becoming famous? The reporters, their comments? The photographing of the scalped Indian? Communications?

16.Responsibility for the massacre, in its origins - individuals, groups, traditions?

17.The place of the Indians in the 19th century? Transition to the 20th century? American racism?