The Activist (2014) Reviews

• To be Watched in its Entirety, without Interruption

  in19842014-03-15

  8.9 of 10. The best men and women in a box legal story since 12 Angry Men. Despite having more space, the setting increases the sense of being confined with nowhere to go. It's definitely not the usual prison film either. Time doesn't slip by quickly with suspenseful action scenes quickly shifting from one to the next as many years pass by. As a result, this isn't a film to step into and out of. Far too slow moving for that. It really needs to be watched in full, from the start without stepping away. That said, the documentary aspects of it still shine through if only the second half is watched. If you're already very knowledgeable of this time in history, it will be far less intriguing. Fortunately, it covers some modern history that's rarely discussed much less turned into films.

• Terrific film. Important subject matter

  jeanmichel-arnoult2014-01-28

  "The Activist" combines the best of Documentary and Fiction filmmaking. I wasn't familiar with the Wounded Knee Incident before watching the film; it's maybe no coincidence that the director comes from France... The performances are terrific, from the cops / jailers to the main characters, the two activists that get arrested during the events. Most of the action takes place inside a local jail, where tension is escalating as time passes. The jailed heroes get three surprise visits that challenge their assumptions. In the end, we have a great film about a little-known episode of American History. Don't miss it!

• So painful, but a terrific movie.

  searchanddestroy-12014-06-12

  There are so few of this kind of daring pictures, films that speak of major social problems which are ignored by the most of the people. The story of the American Indians is a painful tale for these brave people, killed for most of them two centuries ago with the help of bullets, diseases and hunger - no more Buffalo meat. These noble people killed only because they had committed the crime to live on THEIR land. A land that the white invaders desperately fought for. I am myself a white man, and when I Watch this, I feel ashame to be white dude. This movie is very accurate. Wounded Knee really existed, the terrible slaughter of men, women, elders and children by the white men. With the blessing of the US Government. I feel Dizzy only dialing on my computer. A great movie. Really. So shame that it won't have a large release, unlike the Hollywood big scale crap. The guy playing the President counselor is absolutely outstanding as the disgusting executive planning the Indian destruction, and with the smile, PLEASE!!! When I watched him play, I wished him to drop dead. The character I mean, not the actor. A very good one. Go and see it. For the Indian Nation's sake. Thanks for them.

• Great film!

  BigLaxFan942016-12-02

  I loved this film since it deals with the sensitive nature of what went on during the AIM Conflict in 1973. The 2 "prisoners" who never did a thing to anyone were wrongfully arrested. That's a no-brainer since there was obviously no justice for them. However justice finally came for them when the attorney defended them. The only problem was they didn't get released from their cells like they should have. But I noticed at how the final credits say that Tonanzin Carmelo played Anne Ward when in fact she portrayed Sacheen Littlefeather. For those who don't know she was the one who acted on behalf of Marlon Brando by refusing to accept an Oscar Award. Hollywood's portrayal on Natives was pathetic (and still is) and since Brando got tired of seeing that kind of treatment on Natives, he opted not to accept any awards. Ann Ward was clearly played by someone else. I also liked how that one cop became sympathetic to those 2 boys while the other cop was a real racist loser. Anyways... this film truly deserves a 9 out of 10.