-Written by Kyle Bain.
Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, some of the most well-known Native Americans in history, spoke the Lakota language. Now, those that remain speaking the language are concerned that the language will soon go the way of the Dodo, and that their history will slowly slip away with it. Oyate Woyaka follows a group of individuals that want nothing more than to preserve their history and their language.
Oyate Woyaka is simply a film made out of desperation, as the Lakota speakers effectively beg their people to help restore their language, to preserve a part of history that they believe will be extinct in the next fifteen years. Really, what is the point of documentary filmmaking if things like this don’t exist, if they aren’t put out into the world hoping to affect change? Oyate Woyaka focuses on these individuals, but sees them more as a whole rather than singular people looking for change–and it’s ultimately the camaraderie that will allow their goals to be achieved at the end of the day.
Directors Bryant High Horse Jr. and George McAuliffe ensure that this sense of family and community is the thing that is most prominently featured throughout the course of Oyate Woyaka. Did I have any knowledge of the language or the people prior to turning on this documentary? No. However, viewers’ innate human connection will allow them to better understand, respect, and appreciate the plights of those seen on screen. That sense of community extends beyond what happens on screen, out into the world, reaching nearly everyone that it comes in contact with. It’s simple, but it’s imperative to the film’s success.
While Oyate Woyaka is technically a feature-length film, it clocks in at just under an hour–adopting many of the same techniques that you might see in short films. With that, Oyate Woyaka gets straight to the point and doesn’t waste time beating around the bush or travelling down different avenues throughout. Furthermore, there isn’t much to dissect in regard to the film as a whole, but rather the emotional relevance that permeates it. That is the thing that will matter to viewers, that is what will ultimately find it success.
Directed by Bryant High Horse Jr. & George McAuliffe.
Starring Bryant High Horse Jr., Ione Quiqley, Frances Whitebraid, Gale Spotted Tail, Ben Black Bear Sr., etc.
6.5/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE
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