Native American film 'Neither Wolf Nor Dog' opens in Whitefish

The success of Scottish director, Steven Lewis Simpson’s adaptation of best-selling novel, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog,” defies logic — Hollywood logic that is. It was audience financed with 18 shoot days, a tiny crew, a 95-year-old star and a self-distributed release that started in small towns and is outperforming blockbusters in numerous multiplexes. The film has become the most successful non-Hollywood Native American film in years.

Film Critics Society’s Louis Fowler named “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” his number one film of 2017.

The film now opens in Whitefish at the Mountain Cinema from March 16 for at least one week.

Based on the best-selling Native American novel by author, Kent Nerburn, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” takes audiences on a deeply moving road trip through contemporary and historical Lakota life and culture. It follows the journey of a white writer who is summoned by a Lakota elder to write a book about his life.

Its humor is wry and pulls no punches, introducing deep characters and poignant vignettes that challenge the viewer to see the world a bit differently.

Dave Bald Eagle died at the age of 97 in 2016 before the film’s release. For a time his obituary was the most-read feature in the world on the BBC.

NPR’s All Things Considered team debated on-air whether Bald Eagle was “the world’s most interesting man.”

The film stars two noted veterans. Dave Bald Eagle was left for dead during D-Day and co-star,

Christopher Sweeney was awarded the Silver Star from the Gulf War. Dave Bald Eagle had relatives at the infamous Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890. The film’s climax was filmed at Wounded Knee and Dave improvised the whole sequence in the most moving way. Afterwards he said “I’ve been holding that in for 95-years”. This wasn’t your average movie shoot.

By the time the end credits arrive, the characters of this modest, crowdfunded feature are practically unforgettable. It’s immensely serious but no downer.