In a recent interview, Lily Gladstone, the Golden Globe awardee, ardently upholds her Reservation Dogs co-star, Devery Jacobs’, prerogative to express her views on Martin Scorsese’s portrayal of the Osage murders in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Jacobs, of the Echo fame, conveyed her intense experience of watching the film, labeling it as “hellfire.” The narrative delves into a series of unsolved murders perpetrated by white Americans, orchestrating a reign of terror to pilfer the Osage tribe’s wealth, particularly their mineral rights and oil leases.
Gladstone, portraying Mollie Burkhart, an Osage woman targeted by the atrocities depicted in the film, briefly addressed Jacobs’ sentiments. She emphasized their friendship and mutual respect but refrained from subjecting Jacobs to undue scrutiny.
Gladstone believes that Jacobs’ reaction stems from deep-rooted trauma experienced by Native women when confronted with such historical narratives. She points out the significance of the Osage people’s perspective as the ultimate concern.
Acknowledging the film’s commendable Indigenous representation, concerns about its white-centric viewpoint have been raised by others, including Christopher Cote, the film’s Osage language consultant. Cote expressed a desire for a narrative anchored in Mollie’s perspective, highlighting the challenge of an outsider, like Scorsese, presenting it accurately.
Despite this, the film has garnered praise, and Gladstone’s historic Golden Globe win for her role in the movie is seen as a breakthrough for the Indigenous acting community, positioning her as a strong contender for an upcoming Academy Award nomination.
The discourse surrounding “Killers of the Flower Moon” underscores the intricate layers of perspective, trauma, and historical representation, reflecting a complex interplay of cinematic narrative and cultural sensitivity.