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Dances With Wolves Essay

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Dances With Wolves is a historical drama/ Western war film directed and produced by Kevin Costner. The leading actors include Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, and Graham Greene. The film is also said to be an adaptation of a novel of the same title written by Michael Blake. Costner stars as the main character of Lieutenant John J. Dunbar. The plot follows the growing relationship between Lieutenant Dunbar and a group of Lakota Native Americans during the Civil War after Dunbar takes a liking to their lifestyle. Costner does an excellent job of handling the movie. As a result, the film won 7 Academy Awards, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture.

I believe that a major reason for the film’s success is due to the fact that the …show more content…

It seems as if they already knew he would be coming. This shocks me. Of course, they ask Dunbar of his intentions while on their land. At first, he refuses to say, but later on he reveals why he is there. The Indians begin to trust him and later welcome him into their way of life (Although they too are curious about Dunbar’s lifestyle.) After the Sioux tribe allows him into their camp, he begins to learn new things such as their language. What really warmed my heart the most was that Dunbar wrote an entry in his journal stating that he seems to have found a new outlook on life due to the Sioux people, and says that “everyday is a miracle.” Dunbar seems even more fascinated by the fact that the tribe has such a strong sense of togetherness and places a strong emphasis on family. The Sioux people even end up giving Dunbar the name “Dances With Wolves.”Another scene that surprised me is when Dunbar is to belong to the tribe is when he offers to join them in battle against another tribe. The chief advises against this (which struck me as being a little odd.) But it seems as if this was in Dunbar’s best interest because by staying back on the land while the rest of the tribe went to war, he prevented a sneak attack from a rival

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