Where to watch Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale
3 Stars
Squanto (Adam Beach) is a high-born Native American from a tribe on the Atlantic coast of North America which devotes its life to hunting and rivalry with a neighboring tribe. Everything changes forever after a ship arrives from England, prospecting the region’s commercial potential for the rich Sir George (Sir Michael Gambon), who uses all his wealth and influence only for ever greater profit. When it returns, several Indians find themselves captives on-board, including Squanto. The arrogant “Christians” consider themselves utterly superior to the “heathen savages” and treat them as brutally as they do beasts. Squanto fights a bear in a circus, not understanding how men can be so cruel to that creature either, and manages a spectacular escape, but where must he go? He finds shelter and help in a rural monastery, where it takes his protector some effort to prevent the others considering the unknown as diabolical. In time, Sir George’s men come looking for him most brutally, but he escapes again, now determined to find a way back home, across the ocean.
Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale was criticized harshly by those with historical knowledge of the events it depicts, but it’s a rousing adventure tale that has plenty of positive attributes. After the massive success of Dance with Wolves spurred a renewed interest in Native American culture, Disney Studios was quick to produce this action film aimed at family audiences. Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale was largely ignored by general audiences upon its theatrical release, but I think the film was unfairly dismissed due to a pathetic marketing campaign and movie reviewers unaccustomed to Disney’s live-action fare during the era.
This admittedly simplistic tale that depicts the events leading up to the first Thanksgiving is worthwhile family viewing. Director Xavier Koller does a painstaking job recreating the era, and his attention to period detail is to be commended. Credit must also be given to star Adam Beach for creating a likable, charming, and sympathetic character instead of the usual cliched chart that populates films about native Americans. Squanto: A Warriors Tale is ideal for an evening of family entertainment.
Directed by: Xavier Koller
Written by: Darlene Craviotto
Starring: Adam Beach, Mandy Patinkin, Sheldon Peters Wolfchild