Unveiling the Riveting and Controversial Truth: Insights from Killers of the Flower Moon's Osage Consultant

Summary

Killers of the Flower Moon's Osage language consultant Christopher Cote has mixed feelings about the movie due to its focus on Leonardo DiCaprio's Ernest Burkhart.

Cote would have preferred if the movie had centered on Lily Gladstone's character, Mollie, and the perspective of the Osage people. However, he acknowledges that an Osage individual would likely be the most suitable person for this task.

Initially, the movie was intended to emphasize the FBI investigation into the Osage murders. However, DiCaprio's input eventually caused a shift in the story's focus towards Ernest and Mollie.

Christopher Cote, an Osage language consultant, offers his mixed review of the film "Killers of the Flower Moon." Directed by Martin Scorsese, this Western epic is based on David Grann's book, which tells the story of the murders of Osage Nation members in 1920s Oklahoma following the discovery of oil on their land. The cast features Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, Robert De Niro as William Hale, and Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart.

Cote, speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, expresses mixed feelings about the film. While understanding the reasons behind the focus on non-Osage characters, Cote, as an Osage, had hoped for a perspective centered on Mollie and her family's experiences. He believes that only an Osage could truly capture that perspective. Cote acknowledges Martin Scorsese's commendable depiction of their people but points out that the film seems to tell the story from the viewpoint of Ernest Burkhart, portraying him with a conscience and love, despite his involvement in the conspiracy to murder Cote's entire family. He emphasizes that such actions cannot be equated with love but instead represent extreme abuse.

In the end, the question that remains is: Until when will you tolerate racism? How much longer will you stay silent, not speaking up against it, how long will you be complacent?

That's because this film wasn't created exclusively for the Osage community, but for everyone else, not just Osage. For those who have experienced disenfranchisement, they can relate, but for other nations with their own history of oppression, this is a chance for them to reflect on their own moral compass, and that's my perspective on this film.

How Killers Of The Flower Moon Changed During Development

Cote may have conflicting emotions about how the film portrays this tragic chapter in Osage history. Initially, the movie had intended to adopt a perspective that heavily favored non-Osage viewpoints. Originally conceptualized as a police procedural, the Killers of the Flower Moon narrative was more aligned with the book.

During the early stages of development, DiCaprio was slated to portray FBI agent Tom White, and the story primarily revolved around his efforts to unravel the murders. However, DiCaprio eventually took the lead in advocating for a deeper exploration of the story, focusing on the twisted relationship between Ernest and Mollie. This shift in focus called for significant revisions to the script and placed a greater emphasis on the impact of these events on the Osage people.

It is evident that effectively portraying a significant chapter of Osage history is still a challenge, particularly because Scorsese is not of Osage heritage. Although Scorsese's emphasis on white characters like Ernest and William in Killers of the Flower Moon can be criticized, it is also important to question if a white filmmaker is the most suitable individual to solely relay the Osage perspective. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, which is why Cote's feelings towards the film are ambivalent.