Controversial or Captivating? Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Moon Under Fire, Reservation Dogs Star Speaks Out

Summary

Devery Jacobs finds the depiction of Native American people in Killers of the Flower Moon to be painful, grueling, and unnecessarily graphic.

The Osage characters in the film were not given enough importance as compared to the white men, according to Jacobs. Additionally, she raises concern about the normalization of violence against Indigenous people due to the portrayal of more murdered Native women on screen. Jacobs further criticizes non-Native directors for prioritizing the white perspective and emphasizing the pain of Native people. She expresses a preference for an Osage filmmaker to narrate this historical account.

Devery Jacobs strongly criticizes the portrayal of the Osage murders in the film Killers of the Flower Moon. The renowned actor, recognized for her role as Elora in the popular TV series Reservation Dogs, portrays a young Muscogee Nation member. As a proud member of the Mohawk tribe, Jacobs has dedicated her career to representing Indigenous characters.

In a recent post, Jacobs openly expresses her disapproval of Martin Scorsese's depiction of Native American people in Killers of the Flower Moon. Below are some of her impactful statements:

The rest of her thread goes like this:

"As a Native person, watching this movie was an absolute nightmare. It felt like being confronted with the most horrifying acts that were done to our ancestors, and being forced to endure a film that explicitly showcased them. The only relief I got was from 30-minute scenes where white men discussed and plotted these killings."

Please take note that Lily Gladstone is an absolute legend and portrayed Mollie with remarkable poise. The exceptional Indigenous actors truly stood out as the sole saving grace of this film. Lily undeniably deserves an Oscar for her outstanding performance.

However, although all the actors delivered strong performances, upon closer inspection, the portrayal of the Osage characters appeared disappointingly underdeveloped, while the white male characters were granted significantly more attention and complexity.

Now, I comprehend the captivating technical direction of Martin Scorsese and witnessing $200 million on the big screen is truly remarkable. I understand that the intention behind the violence is to shock audiences and make them comprehend the true horrors endured by this community, HOWEVER—

I believe that the depiction of their deaths in such a horrific manner lacked the recognition and respect that these genuine individuals deserved.

On the contrary, I view the portrayal of additional murdered Native women on screen as a means of perpetuating violence and depicting our community in a dehumanizing manner. Moreover, witnessing the enthusiastic response of film enthusiasts to such content only exacerbates my discomfort.

Indigenous people extend far beyond our experiences of grief, trauma, and atrocities. Our pride in our Native identity, our languages, cultures, and the joy and love we possess are much more captivating and humanizing than simply showcasing the sufferings inflicted upon us by white men. The problem arises when non-Native directors are granted the freedom to narrate our narratives, as they tend to prioritize the white perspective and emphasize the pain endured by Native individuals.

The Osage communities involved in the production of this film must find it truly cathartic to see their stories and histories being recognized, particularly on a prestigious platform like this. Many Wazhazhe individuals contributed to the creation of this film, producing remarkable work.

However, personally, I would greatly appreciate seeing an Osage filmmaker deliver this historical account through a $200 million movie, at any given time.

—and I apologize, but Scorsese's decision to conclude with a scene featuring Ilonshka dancing and drumming? It does not justify the film's portrayal of Native individuals as powerless victims devoid of autonomy.

Rest in peace to Mollie, Anna, Minnie, Rita, and all the other actual Osage individuals who were killed due to greed. Let us remember and honor the countless Osage people today, whose family legacies have been scarred by these horrific acts. The anguish experienced is genuine and transcends beyond the film's duration of 3 hours and 26 minutes.

And a heartfelt condemnation to those white Oklahomans who continue to hold and profit from these headrights tainted with the blood of indigenous people.

Considering the negative representation of indigenous communities in film over the past century, is this truly the portrayal we desired?

#KillersOfTheFlowerMoon

More to come...

Source: Devery Jacobs/Twitter