
Many stories tell about the country’s ecological catastrophe as well as the plight of its native population, however, it is upon us to consider the past that has been bestowed upon us as well as listen to them all as it concerns the future of this country. I had some problems with the production of Mary Mazzio’s Bad River, but the film succeeds in adding to the context that builders and politicians must care for the legacy that they were born into and the world they will pass to their children. Bad River, and speaking with Quannah Chasing Horse and Ed Norton guide us in partnership with some of the most talented Indigenous personalities in the industry like Mato Wayuhi and Taylor Hensel from Reservation Dogs, we get to see this worldview being expressed from an unusual perspective. Bad River will be hitting the theaters this weekend.
The Bad River Tribe forms part of the wider Ojibwe political group located in the northern Wisconsin region, alongside the Great Lake Superior, which is regarded as one of the lakes in America. In Mazzio’s film, the Native American injustices depicted in The Searchers and the quest for autonomy are glossed over. Her documentary tightly circles around the Enbridge Company owned, bad river Line 5 Pipeline that runs through its territory.
Once the pipeline being assessed for erosion is located, the fight now shifts to its dismantlement. However, Mazzio’s approach is not only limited to this problem by conversing with locals and sometimes, trying to connect too many dots. People’s desire to mention the numerous challenges such cultures are facing today and why they want to restore their traditions is justified, but the film too often strays from one thing that would help resolve the story The David versus Goliath scenario which is such an interesting lore. Furthermore, many of the dramatic interjections came from the interviews, and the music was almost too much in parts. At the climax of the film, there is a beautifully shot segment that tracks the path traced by the river as one would track a life’s trajectory while other material more specific, intricate, and thoughtful less what felt like a textbook orientation.
Even if Mazzio explored the series from a different angle in Bad River, it does not seem radically appropriate to critique the film which has made the best use of its time and seeks to accomplish more. At the same to it also puts the Line 5 Pipeline within history and culture which brings it next to the Dawes Act, the orphaning of native american children, and the Indian Relocation Act. What helps people to navigate through the devastation is the resilience of communities which is documented through the strong voices of those who stayed. The movie is not straightforward and tries to do many things but this cannot be the reason for critics. There is so much to be shared.
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