In many Native American stories, novels, etc. there is some sort of trickster figure. A trickster can be sly and humorous, but is trying to prove a point or show a moral to a story. In the movie Medicine River, the apparent trickster is Harlen.
Harlen is a humorous character who likes to fool around, almost like a sort of hero to the community. Harlen always appears randomly throughout the movie and takes on a lot of roles. He cons Will into many different activities, making the calendar, playing basketball and eventually possibly staying in Medicine River, along with the help of Louise. I think Harlen is trying to show Will that Medicine River may be the right choice for him to stay and that he belongs with his roots. Harlen, as the trickster, is trying to prove to Will this point.
I also thought that Harlens importance was an interesting to the story. The Native idea of the trickster figure is foreign to most western, modern stories which i feel made this movie appeal to a native audience. despite this difference i think that the movie could appeal to anyone watching it because of the message it eventually conveyed.
ReplyDeleteI too felt that Harlen was the trickster figure. He always convinced Will to do things even if he didn't really want to. He even played Will and Louise, when Harlen got them to date. Harlen seemed like he was trying to find ways to keep Will at Medicine River longer, and his trickster ways were doing just that.
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