Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale | |
---|---|
Directed by |
Xavier Koller Christopher Stoia |
Produced by | Kathryn F. Galan |
Written by | Darlene Craviotto |
Starring | |
Music by | Joel McNeely |
Cinematography | Robbie Greenberg |
Edited by |
Lisa Day Gillian Hutshing |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
Country |
United States Canada |
Language | English |
Box office | $3,337,685 |
Squanto: A Warrior's Tale is a 1994 American/Canadian adventure drama film. It was written by Darlene Craviato. Xavier Koller and Christopher Stoia were the directors. It is very loosely based on the actual historical Native American figure Squanto, and his life prior to and including the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620. It stars Adam Beach as the lead role of Squanto. It was originally released theatrically on October 28, 1994 and was shot in Louisbourg and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Walt Disney Video released Squanto on VHS June 20, 1995. This movie was released on DVD September 7, 2004.
Plot
Set in the early 17th century, a Patuxet tribesman named Squanto (Adam Beach) is captured by English settlers. He is then taken to England but escapes with a group of men, along with Epenow (Eric Schweig), a Nauset from Martha's Vineyard who was also captured by the English.
When the English ship arrives in Plymouth England, Squanto and Epenow are considered as slaves after meeting the employer of the crew, King George. As a welcome, Squanto gets thrown in a ring with a giant bear. Their battle becomes a spectacle for the English.
Squanto is able to escape, and soon after escapes in a row boat. When he's discovered, he's lying unconscious on a rocky shore, and soon found by a trio of monks who had been fishing.
Squanto is taken into their monastery, in spite of the reluctancy of head Brother Paul. The monk who offers the most open arms, Brother Daniel (Mandy Patinkin), becomes a mentor and friend to Squanto. From Brother Daniel, Squanto learns English, and at the same time, he imparts some knowledge about his world to his new housemates, introducing them to moccasins and popcorn. Brother Paul remains skeptical of 'the pagan' and in any possibility of a "New World".
Meanwhile, Sir George firmly believes that Squanto belongs to the Plymouth printing company, and he has men on the hunt. In another cinematic sequence, Squanto pulls off an improbable escape to accompany Epenow and the crew setting sail back to America.
What Squanto returns to devastates him. His tribe (including his wife, Nakooma) has been entirely wiped out due to illnesses that the Europeans brought. Epenow wishes to turn violent against the English who mistreated them. The Englishmen and Nauset tribe are ready to do battle, but Squanto manages to settle things peacefully. The last scenes of the film portray the first Thanksgiving celebration.
Cast
- Adam Beach as Squanto
- Sheldon Peters Wolfchild as Mooshawset
- Irene Bedard as Nakooma
- Eric Schweig as Epenow
- Leroy Peltier as Pequod
- Michael Gambon as Sir George
- Nathaniel Parker as Thomas Dermer
- Alex Norton as Harding
- Mark Margolis as Captain Thomas Hunt
- Julian Richings as Sir George's Servant
- Mandy Patinkin as Brother Daniel
- Donal Donnelly as Brother Paul
- Stuart Pankin as Brother Timothy
- Paul Klementowicz as Brother James
- Bray Poor as Doctor Fuller
- Tim Hopper as William Bradford
- John Saint Ryan as Myles Standish
- John Dunn-Hill as Governor John Carver
- Selim Running Bear Sandoval as Attaquin
- David Morley as Monk
- Shaun "Mavs" Gillis as Boy in Crowd
- Brian Sullivan as Canoe Wrangler
External links
- Official website
- Squanto: A Warrior's Tale at the Internet Movie Database
- Squanto: A Warrior's Tale at Rotten Tomatoes