thought on The Searchers

The aspects of cinematography that Kilpatrick and Simmon addressed are obvious in this movie. The settlers, Ethan in particular, are given a positive image through the background music, camera angles, lighting, and environment. The Indians on the other hand are given negative background music, very few if any lines, and are shown in the most hostile environments of the film. There was not one scene where an Indians teepee seemed like home, but every settlers home had a warm fire going and happy people inside. All of these differences play a role in the viewer’s image of each group. The stereotypes perpetuated through this movie reflect lingering traces of the attack on settlers that Mary Rowlandson wrote about. The initial attack on the settlers in both the film and Rowlandson’s writing happened for an unknown reason, people were unfairly killed, and someone is taken captive. This is nearly identical to Rowlandson’s account of the Indian raid she experienced. It is very clear that stereotypes were perpetuated throughout this film by the cinematography and the plot.

I found it interesting that this film seemed to support the belief that integration is never really possible even under the best circumstances. Martin was raised as family but Ethan, the man who saved him, disrespects him for his mixed heritage and repeatedly reminds him that he has no family. And later in the movie when his niece calls the Comanche ‘Her people’ he disowns her in his will. Martin and Ethan do have a bond by the end of the film but it seemed to me that it was more of a friendship formed through their years of searching and traveling together than a bond because they were related. I also found it interesting that Ethan is portrayed as the hero of the story because of the strength and endurance he exhibits.  His irrational behavior seems to be completely overlooked because of the final result. He fights to save his niece despite all odds, placing family first; this is a noble cause but he is blatantly violent and racist throughout the film. It is interesting that his racism and violence is accepted, and often encouraged, because he is fighting for a noble cause.