Skins Movie Review

The first film that was written, produced, directed and starred an all American Indian cast was Skins. Skins was filmed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and at various other locations near the reservation in South Dakota and Nebraska. This film can be examined by considering the relationships displayed in the film to the political and social climate pertaining to American Indians at the time of its production, the extent to which it reinforces or deconstructs stereotypes about American Indians, and the differences displayed in this film between mainstream films produced in Hollywood about American Indians.

In Skins numerous issues related to the political and social climate surrounding American Indians and life on reservations are shown. One of the issues that is described in Skins is alcoholism and general issues with alcohol and other addictions on the reservation and among the American Indian population. This issue is one of the many themes of the film, with one of the main characters Mogie being a severe alcoholic and he is also diagnosed with terminal serosis of the liver, which in turn leads to his death. Some other social issues shown in the film are adultery, abuse, corruption and lack of parental involvement in the lives of children. Additionally, a major political issue between that United States government and the Sioux was also described in the film. This issue being the Sioux tribes' desire for the United States to return to them ownership of the Black Hills of Western South Dakota and Eastern Wyoming, that was promised to them in the Ft. Laramie treaty that formed the Great Sioux Nation.

This is a major part of the film, Mogie rants about it when they are eating supper prior to his son's game and it inspires Rudy's actions at the end of the film when he pours paint on Mount Rushmore. Another political issue highlighted in Skins, was the involvement of American Indians in the United States military during the Vietnam War. Mogie was awarded three Purple Hearts related to his service in the Vietnam War, but the war also led to his current status as a American Indian living on the reservation with a severe alcohol problem and other metal issues related to is time served in the military. The film Skins not only highlights and features numerous social and political issues related to American Indians but attempts to provide the general public an accurate and humanized picture of the effects of those issues.

As the first film about American Indians that American Indians had a hand in all of the stages of the production it contains obvious attempts to deconstruct existing stereotypes about American Indians. It deconstruct these stereotypes by showing American Indians in the present day, being focuses around a specific tribe, filming on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, by humanizing the American Indian characters, creating much deeper and elaborate characters and by using a cast consisting of American Indian actors. Yet, this film at some points does reinforce some common stereotypes about American Indians. One of these scenes is when Rudy has the wise, mystic moment when examining the rock that he hit his head on near the site where the young man was murdered. Skins does succeed in diminishing many of the stereotypes about American Indians, but not without referencing common stereotypes in a few scenes of the film.

As a film created by American Indians, Skins is very different than the majority of other films about American Indians that have been produced in Hollywood by major film companies. First, although it contains a very serious and dramatic storyline the film contains humor to counteract the seriousness of the film. Additionally, the characters in the film are much more humanized, round and deep than American Indian characters in many other films. Skins addresses a variety of social and political problems directly related to American Indians which is not common in other films and does it in a realistic and non-diminishing manner. Also, American Indians are the main characters of the film and it is set on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and was filmed on locations so it shows accurate depictions of the situation and lifestyle of the particular reservation and of the residence of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Finally, another difference between this film and most others related to American Indians is that it is sent in present time and the American Indians are the main characters not just an apposing force to the settlers, cowboys or United States Calvary in the traditional and typical western. All of these differences between the majority of films about American Indians and Skins that was produced by American Indians assist in its ability to deconstruct stereotypes and its general effectiveness.