Geronimo: An American Legend Directed by Walter Hill FIRST, an admission. I love films about the American west.
The recent spate of films -Dances with Wolves, Unforgiven, Wyatt Earp- - has been a pleasure. Unfashionable in the 1970's, the "western" reached its nadir with the financially disastrous Heaven's Gate. Thankfully it has now been rehabilitated.
Geronimo is by any standards a very fine piece of work. It presents a searing indictment of the genocidal policy toward native American peo ple.
Removed from their land the Chiricahua Apache were forced to live on the San Carlos reservation. Anyone leaving was hunted down. Traditional religions were destroyed.
Holy men were seen as particularly seditious. Their attempts to raise spirits were often a call for opposition to the authorities.
Those familiar with the bantustan system in South Africa will recognise this description by Briton Davis, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army: "San Carlos won unanimously our designation of it as 'Hell's Forty Acres'... it was almost continuously dry, hot, dust and gravel laden. Winds swept the plain, denuding it of every vestige of vegetation".
Fighting back
Geronimo fought back. His actions were reminiscent of La Pasionaria's words during the Spanish Civil War "It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees"
He frequently asks those Apache who joined the U.S. army as scouts "where is your heart?"
The film is strongest in dealing with the resistance of the Apache. Director Walter Hill skilfully demonstrates that the violence of the Chiricahua is not indiscriminate but the result of years of oppression.
Murder
In a particularly moving scene Geronimo (Wes Studi) explains that after the murder of his wife and children by Mexican troops "I stood hardly knowing what to do.... could not call back my loved ones, I could not bring back the dead Apaches but I could rejoice in fevenge."
In August 1886 Geronimo finally had to surrender. Many of his supporters were seriously ill.
The state would only accept unconditional surrender. Geronimo and his followers were exiled to Florida and Getting off his knees. Geronimo in 1884 gave up their homeland to the government. The promise of return within two years was broken.
The removal of the Apache to Florida is haunting. In a scene reminiscent of the Holocaust the Chiricahua are crammed on to a train for the journey souin.
Thus is an inspiring and moving film. I would commend it to everyone.
One caveat: if I have to go to yet another film with a score by Ry Cooder I am going to scream..
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No.71, 3 November 1994, Page 12