Today we will talk about the series Reservation Dogs created by Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo.
The series has received awards at several famous festivals: American Film Institute Awards, American Film Institute Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and Peabody Awards. The series has three seasons, so get ready for a long read))
The beginning of the series is quite powerful — right from the action, which is always a big plus. A group of teenagers steal a van. And despite the Tarantino-style kick beat, it brings a smile, because this van with chips and none of the hijackers still know how to properly drive a truck.
This action sets the general outline of the entire plot. The story is about a group of teenagers living on an Indian reservation, who call themselves the Reservation Dogs. They are eager to make money faster by any means and make many mistakes along the way. Also, there is a common pain for them — the suicide of their mutual friend. There is also a rival gang — the NDN mafia, with which there are regular skirmishes and so far not in favor of the Dogs.
In the finale of the first episode, the leader of the gang, the Bear, seemed to clearly outline their common goal: “We must become militias, not bandits.” Many viewers, like myself, began to think that the series would be about modern Robin Hood, and they were mistaken. These teenagers want to be heroes but still remain ordinary teenagers. And this is good because it corresponds to real life.
In general, the pilot episode was very powerful and promised a lot of interesting things in the continuation. However, in the following series, the plot begins to sag. The plot was like some kind of meaningless chaos as if the director was making a documentary based on the principles of Dogma 95. I clearly imagined how the director would approach a group of actors and say something like this: “Do something interesting, and we will shoot it.” It is also possible that the creators tried to use the methodology of the series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. But it is effective for sitcoms, for series with a cross-cutting plot, such chaos confuses the viewer.
There was an impression that the creators of the series seem to have forgotten who the main characters of this story are and what their main goals are.
The situation began to improve only in the fifth episode of the first season. The absurdity began to take on some meaning. The episode was made in the style of “One Day in the Life…”. They showed how Officer Big investigates absurd crimes and makes absurd conversations. It was interesting to hear, for example, from the landfill owner about the String theory. I liked the mystical story about a Deer woman.
Despite the chaos, the creators of the series somehow instinctively managed to keep the story alive. Powerful situation with the father of the Bear, a man trying to be a rapper. Because of his drunken spree, he forgets about his son’s birthday and then lies that he will order a private jet and fly to his son. I hope the Bear understood that growing up without ather is much better than growing up with a father like his.
I liked the situation when one of the main characters, Elora, returned after an unsuccessful attempt to escape to Los Angeles. and tried to start hanging out with her gang again. The Bear tried to scold her, in the style of “I didn’t even hear an apology from you.” And Elora replied “I don’t understand why you don’t see that I’m sorry, but after what you said then I’m not sorry,” and went to her home. In fact, she refused to admit her guilt and even made him guilty. And after such behavior, the Bear even tried to follow her.
I can say that this situation is typical for the closed enclaves characteristic of provincial cities. I know this from personal experience of my youth. I could know that my comrade frankly dumped me, and more than once, but I had to continue to communicate with him since there was no one better.
I really liked the episode dedicated to how the mother of the Bear, Rita, went to the Indian conference with her friends. A very touching and funny story about women who already have grown children, but they are still trying to find their love.
I liked the character William “Spirit” Knifeman, who regularly comes to the Bear and tells absurd stories. The Bear asks him: “What is the point in all this?”, he replies “I do not give answers — I only ask questions”.
Other funny characters are two Indian twins on bicycles who rap their own compositions and know everything that is happening around them.
I liked the finale of the first season, unexpected but very truthful. The gang had been going to California for so long, but when the money was raised, the two refused to go. Elora told the Bear that he was irresponsible and didn’t take him, but took Jackie, the leader of the enemies from the NDN mafia. In terms of principles, she did the right thing, since the Bear spent their joint money. And Elora said it to his face and backed up her words with deeds.
Such life stories became the foundation that kept the entire series from falling apart. I wish the all series were like this. But I guess, the creators when started shooting, probably did not know where they were going. For them, it was also a kind of “growing up” during the filming of the series.
I liked the last episode of the second season very much. The four of them finally managed to get to Los Angeles. They go to the ocean and hug. Then the camera pulls back and shows that Daniel, their friend who committed suicide a long time ago, is hugging them. The director is probably a fan of the movie Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, which had a similar concept.
I suspected that there would be a continuation because the Bear said on the shore: “I will not return.” It would be very interesting to know about his (or all of them) life in Los Angeles. But I guess that if they all stay in Los Angeles, then their friendship will end, because everyone will have plenty of new people to communicate with. So let’s see.
Conclusion
Real-life situations elevate this story above any silly teenage superhero stories like Cody Banks, Kick-Ass, and Spy Kids, in which toddlers who have just learned to walk without a diaper are already saving the world.
The addition of mysticism brings supplementary interest to the story.
Also, the color of the Indian reservation lifts interest in the story. An unknown subculture is always interesting.
The title of the movie is a natural reference to Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and it worked well for the series’ recognizability.
Many of the characters are very original. It’s very hard to come up with something like this. You have to live this life and see these people. I think typical Hollywood screenwriters who learn about life by watching other people’s TV shows are very jealous.
The main disadvantage — the lack of a full-fledged romantic line in this story. This is the age when usually happens the craziest love in entire life. The age when “love forever” and “friendship for life”.
Nevertheless, I can say that this is one of the best stories about growing up I have ever seen.
As always I will try to assess the main parameters of the film that seem important to me using a 1–10 point scale.
Selection of Actors 8
Innovation 6
Soundtrack 6
Title 9
Final 9
Total 7.6
Thanks for your time.
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