Powwow Highway
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| Powwow Highway | |
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| Directed by | Jonathan Wacks |
| Produced by | George Harrison Denis O'Brien Jan Wieringa |
| Written by | David Seals Janet Heaney |
| Starring | A Martinez Gary Farmer Amanda Wyss |
| Music by | Barry Goldberg |
| Cinematography | Toyomichi Kurita |
| Editing by | Jim Stewart |
| Distributed by | Anchor Bay |
| Release date(s) | Jan, 1989 Film Festivals Feb 24, 1989 Wide Release |
| Running time | 87 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Powwow Highway is a 1989 Comedic Road Movie based on the novel written by David Seals. It features A Martinez, Gary Farmer, and Amanda Wyss. Relatively unknown actors at the time, Wes Studi and Graham Greene have small supporting roles.
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[edit] Plot
For the Northern Cheyenne tribe of Lame Deer, Montana, the American Dream has taken a grim detour. Here, Buddy Red Bow (Martinez), a quick-tempered activist, is battling greedy developers who send fast-talking, slick Sandy Youngblood to the reservation to try and persuade the council to vote in favor of a strip-mining contract. Philbert Bono (Farmer) is a serene hulk of a man guided by sacred visions. He desperately wants to find his medicine, and starts his journey to become a warrior by trading some drugs, booze, and a few bucks for his 'war pony' - a rusted out, beat up 1964 Buick he names 'Protector.' Meanwhile, Buddy's estranged sister, Bonnie, is arrested in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Buddy is the only family member who can help her and her children, Jane and Sky Red Bow. Buddy does not own a car, so he is forced to make the journey with Philbert. They set out on their road trip, and Philbert's easygoing ways and insistence on frequent stops to meditate and eat prove irritating at first to Buddy, but the men reach an understanding as the trip wears on. When they finally reach Santa Fe, they meet up with Bonnie's friend, Rabbit (Wyss) who is also trying to get Bonnie out of jail. Buddy and Philbert end up taking more than just a trip from Lame Deer to Santa Fe, finding themselves on a journey with many unexpected twists, turns, and stops. Together, they face the realities and dreams of being Cheyenne in the modern-day United States as they travel down the Powwow Highway.
[edit] Response
Powwow Highway did poorly at the box office, grossing a mere $283,747, despite mostly positive reviews.
Roger Ebert called Farmer's performance "...one of the most wholly convincing I’ve seen..."
[edit] Awards
- Sundance Film Festival: Filmmakers Trophy. Nominations: Grand Jury Prize.
- Independent Spirit Awards Nominations: Best Supporting Male, Best Cinematography, and Best First Feature.
- Native American Film Festival: Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor.
