Inside the Osage Nation's Transformative Role in Enhancing Killers of the Flower Moon Authenticity

Many Osage people expressed skepticism when the news broke that Martin Scorsese would be directing "Killers of the Flower Moon," a film adaptation of David Grann's best-selling book about the 1920s Osage murders. This reaction stems from Hollywood's history of perpetuating negative portrayals and stereotypes of Native Americans, such as the White savior narrative in "Dances With Wolves" and the Indigenous stereotypes in "The Last of the Mohicans."

Courtesy Apple Original Films

The book "Killers of the Flower Moon" delves into a haunting and distressing period in Osage history. Following their forced displacement from their original lands and subsequent settlement in present-day Oklahoma, the Osage stumbled upon immense oil reserves beneath their newfound territory. This newfound wealth not only brought prosperity to the Osage people but also attracted the attention of malicious individuals who hatched a heinous scheme to carry out a series of murders targeting the Osage.

Former Osage Nation Chief Jim Gray expressed his worry about the potential exploitation of the tribe once again, specifically regarding the portrayal of how they lost their resources and land, rather than the loss itself. As preparations for "Killers of the Flower Moon" commenced, the Osage Nation voiced their concerns and emphasized their desire to have a say in the representation of their history on the silver screen. Director Scorsese and his team held numerous meetings with tribal members, collaborating with them to ensure an authentic and accurate portrayal of the Osage people and their culture.

Now that theyve seen "Killers of the Flower Moon," Gray and other Osages say the film is all the better for the collaboration.

Scorsese met with descendants of Osage murder victims

Scorsese and his team held a meeting in 2019 with Osage Nation Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear regarding "Killers of the Flower Moon." The Chief provided resources, including the tribes language department, to support the film's production, as reported by the Osage News.

During the same year, Scorsese also met with individuals from the Gray Horse community in Oklahoma. Many of them are descendants of the Osage victims who tragically lost their lives in the 1920s. Among those present was Jim Gray.

Former Osage Nation Chief Jim Gray has a personal connection to the story depicted in "Killers of the Flower Moon."

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Gray, the great-grandson of Henry Roan, an Osage man whose murder led federal investigators to uncover the mastermind behind the killing plot, urged Scorsese during their meeting to delve further into the identities of these Osage victims.

"Gray expressed his desire to create a groundbreaking film that would be unprecedented in the industry. He conveyed to Scorsese that he wanted it to be the film that everyone would acknowledge as a great achievement," Gray explained.

Gray admitted that he is uncertain about the exact impact his words had on Scorsese. However, according to the director's interviews, the original script underwent significant revisions. Initially, the film was intended to center around special agent Tom White and his investigation that gave rise to the FBI, with Leonardo DiCaprio slated to portray White.

"In a Time interview, Scorsese revealed that he came to a realization at a certain stage of the film project - it was primarily focused on White male characters. This external perspective troubled him deeply."

"After further contemplation, Scorsese and DiCaprio mutually agreed that the film's core essence lay in the relationship between Mollie, an Osage woman whose family members were experiencing mysterious deaths, and her White settler husband, Ernest Burkhart. As a result, DiCaprio's role was transformed into that of Ernest Burkhart, while Jesse Plemons was enlisted to portray the FBI agent."

Scorsese ultimately overhauled the film's script to focus more on the relationship between Mollie (Gladstone) and Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio).

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"Killers of the Flower Moon" still centers largely on a White mana point that some Osages have criticized.

Christopher Côté, an Osage language consultant for the film, expressed his desire for the perspective of Mollie and her family to be accurately portrayed. He believes that only an Osage person could truly do justice to that perspective. While Côté acknowledged Martin Scorsese's ability to represent their people well, he also offered criticism of the portrayal of Mollie and Burkhart's marriage.

"The narration of this history largely revolves around the perspective of Ernest Burkhart, portraying him as having a conscience and suggesting the presence of love," Côté commented. "However, conspiring to annihilate an entire family is far from an act of love. It is nothing but a severe form of abuse."

(In an interview with The New Yorker, Scorsese revealed that the descendants of Mollie and Ernest Burkhart conveyed to him that the couple shared a deep affection.)

Osage consultants worked to make the story feel authentic

Chad Renfro, the tribes ambassador for the film and a consulting producer on the project, affirms that the influence of numerous Osage people who tirelessly contributed to "Killers of the Flower Moon" is clearly noticeable.

Osage Nation leaders and consultants who worked on the film attend the New York premiere of "Killers of the Flower Moon" on September 27.

The opening scene of the movie features authentic Osage writing, according to Renfro, with both Osage and non-Osage actors speaking the language. The characters are dressed in traditional attire created by Osage artisans, and the scenery showcases the beauty of the Osage reservation.

Renfro expressed his appreciation for the opportunity that a small Native nation like theirs rarely receives. He acknowledged the distressing nature of the story but expressed the exhilaration of witnessing it portrayed so vividly. Gray found the use of the Osage Nation language by renowned actors like Robert De Niro to be exceptionally impactful. This serves as evidence of the dedication of Osage language consultants and coaches, as well as the tribe's investments in language revitalization.

Countless members of the Osage Nation were involved in the production of the film, from the clothing design to the language spoken.

Gray was thoroughly impressed when watching De Niro portray an Osage in the movie, as his performance in speaking the Osage language was incredibly convincing. Gray acknowledges that De Niro's ability to accomplish this was only made possible because an Osage individual was assigned to teach him the language.

Osage consultants provided input on various aspects, including wardrobe and traditional customs, resulting in an unprecedented level of authenticity for Gray, who stated that he had not previously witnessed such fidelity in a mainstream Hollywood production centered around Native people.

Tristan Kipp in Sooyii

from KK Entertainment

"The clothing, designs, fabrics, and the manner in which the Osage woman draped her blanket. These subtle details are often overlooked by most people," Gray explained. "However, if you are an Osage person in the audience, you will notice these nuances. There are numerous small details to catch."

An Osage filmmaker's involvement in "Killers of the Flower Moon" could have resulted in a different outcome. However, at present, Gray is emphasizing the significant contribution made by the Osage Nation to enhance the film. They are both optimistic that it will establish a new benchmark in the industry.

"The expectations for future projects like this are now very high," Renfro stated. "I hope that it will inspire Hollywood and anyone contemplating making films about different cultures to follow suit."