Cheap Powwow Highway (Video) (A Martinez, Gary Farmer) (Jonathan Wacks) Price

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Customer Reviews of Powwow Highway

A Quiet Masterpiece
This deceptively simple "road buddy" film was first introduced to me in 1991 when I was researching Native American culture for my 2 children so they would better understand their heritage. What a feast for the eyes,ears and spirit! The score,some of it by Robbie Robertson (U2) is a wonderfully effective backdrop that carries us into the world of one Native American's unique vision quest. One scene that comes to mind is when the gentle Cheyenne named Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer) surveys a dilapidated junk yard full of wrecked cars, but sees instead a herd of wild ponies galloping on the plain. His choice of a "pony" is a broken down Buick,yet to him it's as noble as any horse that ever ran. And so it goes. A. Martinez is facinating as Buddy RedBow, Philbert's activist friend who joins him on the road. The film weaves together humor and pathos,fantasy and realism for a story that entertains while it touches the spirit and makes one feel,at least for a little while, as if life could indeed be as Philbert sees it; and wouldn't that be a wonderful,magical thing! I have not seen this film since 1992 and thought I might never again. That Pow Wow Highway is available now is a dream come true. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

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explores two different approaches to warriorship
The first time I saw this movie, I was struck mostly by how much fun it was to watch. There is an offbeat, though good-natured, humour that pulses from start to finish--even though some of the settings and life situations are harsh. (Much of the music is quite beautiful--it's by Robbie Robertson but he's not mentioned for it in the credits.) The story line is well-developed, with good transitions between two converging sub-plots. The basic plot is quite simple: two friends, Philbert Bono (Gary Farmer) and Buddy RedBow (A Martinez) take off on a road trip from a Montana Indian reservation to New Mexico in order to get RedBow's sister out of jail. Along the way they form a friendship, despite differences in personality and ways of looking at life.

Upon the second viewing, it became clear to me that much of what divides them in the beginning has to do with different styles of being or becoming a "warrior." Redbow is a Vietnam vet, as well as an activist who had been present at the Wounded Knee conflict. He has a lot of anger about the plight of Indians as well as, I suspect, his Vietnam experience. His idea of carrying out a campaign has to do with fighting, guns, and discharging rage.

Philbert Bono, on the other hand, has never seen any combat action. He's a peaceful sort and regarded by others as an overweight buffoon. However, he's on a spiritual quest to gather power and become a spiritual warrior. His idea of carrying out a campaign has to do with getting the universal forces on his side.

By the end of the film the two men have worked out a strong friendship and respectful working relationship, but it is clearly Philbert's approach to warriorship which carries more weight in the final victory. The movie does have a few plot flaws, but they are insignificant compared to the interest evoked by Philbert Bono's journey, which is one of inner seeking combined with action in the outer world.

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Wow the Highway!
It has been a LONG time since I first saw this movie. I loved it then and would love to see it again! Yet, from where I sit now, it does not look like it will run again on TV and if I were to stand now, I would not see it made into the DVD format for our future Pow Wow Highway folks to see and enjoy! So sad this is that now my heart is downcast and full of tears. When will the powers that be turn their attention to this wonderfully astute film so the future may gaze into the past & see with clarity the way in which we must walk?