Wyoming. Winter. Snow. Cold. Wind. More snow. More cold. More wind. Back in 2004 I drove cross country from the west coast to the east coast, and as I drove through desolate Wyoming, where all I could see for miles on end was winter (even though it was technically already early spring), I thought, “Wow! It’s beautiful, but who would ever want to live here this time of year?”
Wind River, written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, is set on the Native American reservation with that name, tucked in one of the most remote regions of Wyoming. Jeremy Renner stars as Cory Lambert, an expert game (as in fish and wildlife) tracker. Even though he is not a Native American, his ties to the reservation run deep.
After experiencing a heartbreaking loss of his own, Cory, seemingly a loner who maintains good relations with those on the reservation, goes about his job with precision while preserving a deep-seated respect of animals and the land. While out tracking an animal one snowy afternoon, Cory makes a grizzly discovery that shatters the lives of those on the reservation. A young woman’s footprints in the snow end with her bloody body in a frozen heap.
The FBI sends in Agent Jane Banner to investigate. Jane, played by Elizabeth Olsen (Mary-Kate and Ashley’s little sister) is out of her league in terms of familiarity with the Wyoming wilderness. Overwhelmed by how to traverse the snowy mountains and mistrusted by the grief-stricken family, Jane turns to Cory to be her guide and reservation liaison.
As they work together, Jane learns the harsh realities that plague the reservation while the investigation itself stirs haunting memories from Cory’s soul. As they seek to uncover the truth, the story itself becomes more riveting, emotional, and heartbreaking.
The setting, while obviously stunning, made me feel chilly, and I was grateful that I thought to grab a sweater before I walked out the front door. I only wish that I had brought two sweaters with me so I had an extra one in which to bury my face. While not gory, the film was suspenseful, and one scene in particular left me feeling an array of emotions, including outraged, anguished, and cynical. The movie was I-N-T-E-N-S-E!
My husband Mike attended the movie with me, and throughout the film I could hear him exhaling in disbelief as events unfolded. He shared, “This movie is gritty. It’s not the kind of film anyone is going to say that they liked. Instead, it’s a well-told story of graphic events. The acting was incredible, the scenery was beautiful, and the story was poignant.”
While most movies that deal with Native American life seem to focus on the days prior to them being forced onto reservations, Taylor Sheridan instead tells the story in modern times, exposing the substandard living conditions as well as the inequality in which the federal government addresses crime investigations. I was left wondering how many agents would have been sent to investigate the young woman’s murder if she was found outside the reservation rather than on it. While I never doubted Jane’s credentials or expertise, I suspected that she was dubiously assigned to the case so that it would just go away rather than be solved.
Elizabeth Olsen’s portrayal of Jane is convincing, and viewers will admire her gumption. My only complaint, and minor at that, was that she wore makeup. Naturally gorgeous anyway, Olsen, in my humble opinion, didn’t need anything to enhance her beauty. As a woman, I kept thinking that there would be no way in you know what that I would ever bother to apply makeup if I was doing a murder investigation in subzero conditions, especially if I was going to be riding a snowmobile at 80 miles per hour! (I’m curious if the movie was instead directed by a woman if that would have been different.)
Jeremy Renner’s performance is understated yet powerful. As his eyes brimmed with tears, I followed suit, and I suspect you will as well. I applaud Taylor Sheridan’s efforts to bring to the forefront serious issues surrounding Native American reservations. Those said issues, both internal as well as the manner in which our government addresses them, are rarely discussed.
“It is the great shame of my nation the manner in which it has treated the native inhabitants of North America. Sadly, my government continues that shame with an insidious mixture of apathy and exploitation.” – Taylor Sheridan
Movie times: click here
Genre: Action, Crime, Mystery
Director: Taylor Sheridan
Actors: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes
Rating: Rated R for strong violence, a rape, disturbing images, and language
