White man and Indians: a difficult cohabitation

In 19° century, during the first fights between colonists and Indian tribes, the weaker and less

technologically advanced part was defeated.

Many books and films speak about this difficult cohabitation between white men and Indian natives underlining a physical and ideological fight between the individualistic and catholic European culture and

the collective and spiritual Indian one.

The most famous film about this theme is “Dances with wolves”, directed and starring by Kevin Costner and winner of 7 Oscars.

After the American Civil War, John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) requests a transfer to the western frontier. He arrives at his new post, Fort Sedgwick, but finds it abandoned and in disrepair. He begins rebuilding the fort and prefers the solitude he wanted, recording many of his observations in his journal.

Near Fort Sedgwick, there is a Sioux camp and Dunbar decides to have a dialogue.  After many tries, Dunbar also befriends a wolf he calls "Two Socks". When the Sioux observe Dunbar and Two Socks, they give him his Sioux name: "Dances with Wolves". After he killed a buffalo, he becomes a hero and he can marry Stands with a Fist.

Wanted as traitor by Yankees, “Dances with wolves” and his wife leave the tribe to avoid negative consequences on Sioux.

In the end, the film’s message is the elimination of preconceptions and differences between different cultures.