Powwow Highway
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: D Film: B
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, former Beatle George
Harrison was a remarkable film producer through his Handmade Films production
company. The company made more
memorable films and independent triumphs than most people realize. Anchor Bay has just issued one of the
less-known films that deserve a much bigger audience. Jonathan Wacks’ Powwow Highway (1988) is a look at Native
Americans trying to deal with their marginalization and troubles, but with some
remarkable humor and offbeat touches that merit it more of an audience than it
received on first release.
Buddy Red Bow (the underappreciated A Martinez) and
Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer) are best friends who are moving through life the best
they can, experiencing the usual prejudice over their heritage and struggling
for a better life. Besides not being
able to get their new car stereo working, they are not able to get their life
working. Having to deal with things in
a streetwise way, they become stuck in a unique quandary when Buddy’s sister
gets in trouble. They have not been
talking for a long time because she has not been making the best life choices,
especially considering she has kids, which gets her arrested and put into jail.
What will they do to get her out? Can they do anything to get themselves out
of their own life trap?
What could have been a dull or overly serious film has
some moments of greatly timed humor and some moments that really celebrate
life. Based on David Seals book, the
Janet Heaney/Jean Stawarz screenplay is nicely paced and gives the actors some
fine moments. When a film has the right
combination of story and character like this does, it becomes a unique experience
and takes you somewhere you have not been before. Powwow Highway really is the road less traveled.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image has some Video
Black trouble, but Toyomichi Kurita’s cinematography is still apparent in its
good capture of locations and action.
This is somewhat of a “road movie” and is shot as such, but the actors
are as interesting as any of the locations.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is clean and Barry Goldberg gives the film
just the right kind of music, plus the soundtrack has some good hits on
it. Sadly, there are no extras
whatsoever, though I bet just about everyone still with us would have something
to say about the film. Powwow
Highway has a remarkable way of dealing with the dread of what Native
Americans still suffer to this day, but does it knowingly at a time when this
was unheard of. It might just be a
minor classic.
- Nicholas Sheffo
