When you think of famous Native Americans, Pocahontas and Sacagawea are usually the first that pop up in your mind. But there's one American Indian who made his mark on the world of distance running forever; his impressive story is told in the 1983 film Running Brave.
As a half white, half Indian boy Billy Mills grew up on a Sioux Indian reservation in South Dakota. In the film, he is raised primarily by a friend of the family named Frank after his father passes away when he is 12 years old. It is because of his father and Frank that Billy commits himself to running, and this passion leads him to great success in high school and entrance to the University of Kansas.
Because of his Native American heritage and America's atmosphere of racism during the 50s and 60s, one of the film's major themes is Mills' struggle against the prejudice he faces as the only Native American student at the university. This adds a good amount of tension for the viewers as we watch him get pulled in two different directions -- his coach on one side tries to make him into a running machine and his family on the other side urges him not to succumb to the ways of the "white man." Personally, I thought it was interesting to see this kind of racial tension coming from both directions, especially when movies set in this era don't tend to focus on racism against Native Americans.
One aspect of the film that I found surprising was Mills' coach. Usually in running movies, the coach is an inspirational figure who pushes the main character to work hard and achieve his or her dreams. In Running Brave Kansas' Bill Easton tosses aside the usual "Just do your best" philosophy in favor of a "Win no matter what" attitude. The cutthroat coach takes his toll on Mills, whose race suffers from the constant pressure. He writes a letter to his sister on the reservation, telling her that he has lost his love of running because his coach wants him to be a machine.
Although the film has entertaining themes and action, the script leaves something to be desired. I found myself rolling my eyes at several points, wishing the actors would speak more naturally. The cinematography is also nothing to write home about, even though there are many nice shots of South Dakota's desolate yet beautiful landscape. The dialogue is just a small distraction, and these negative points didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment of the film.
All this said the greatest part of the movie by far was the final race at the end, as it is with most running movies! I felt this one was particularly exciting because Mills had just about quit the sport, and in the final race he isn't considered one of the top contenders. It is also a 10,000-meter race, so the film has plenty of time to build tension. It's a true nail-biter, and I won't give away how it ends for those who haven't seen it.
This tale of personal triumph is one that I recommend for running enthusiasts. It has its drawbacks, but the story as a whole is one that I found inspiring and the different themes and conflicts kept me watching in spite of my complaints.
Wanna Watch It?