Posted by Rich on February 28, 1998 at 15:02:31:
In Reply to: Back to the Movie: Part XIIV posted by Katja on February 28, 1998 at 12:43:34:
: First; Have you noticed that Magua or the hurons are not the bad guys in this movie; the British, and generally speaking all Europians, are. British are arrogant and betray all the treaties.
This is a good question, Katja. Personally, my feeling is that the movie, for the most part, doesn't seem to take sides at all. All sides are portrayed in two lights to some extent. Magua, obviously, is the villan in the overall scheme of things, yet even he is given a realistic motivation for acting as he does. That's the thing about the French & Indian War, it was complex. It's difficult to pinpoint WHO the bad guys are. It was a massive land grab. Politics playerd a Large part. The Iroquois were master politicians and played the Europeans against each other as best they could. Other tribes sided with one European power or another based on need, and most of all, protection. It was survival.
: But what I don't understand (and I have been thinking about this a lot, believe me...) is that why are the French portrayed so sympathetically???
Again, this is a matter of perspective. Actually, it can be argued that the movie portrays the French, or more specifically, Montcalm, as the cause of the Massacre. Then, on the other hand, Montcalm was portrayed, realistically, as a Gentleman. Very complex stuff was going on back then, and the film captures this magnificantly!
: it looks like Magua and Montcalm are equal.
And, in fact, Magua (or his historical counterpart) & Montcalm WERE! They needed each other!
: What do you think? Am I making sense? Did your father warn you of people like me?
Yeah, but it did no good! I married ELAINE!!!!