Review of Billy Jack (1971) by Jeff L — 21 Jul 2009

At first, I had some appreciation for this film's attempt to relate Native Americans' various tribulations in dealing with racism and unsympathetic Federal, State and local authorities.

I was otherwise unimpressed with the filmmaker's sympathies with 1970s-style liberalism. I was especially disappointed with this film's opposition to traditional means, and its tacit support for politicized, extreme liberal, agenda-laden methods for educating youths. The radicalism of this film blazes most audaciously in the concluding scene. In this scene, the protagonist of the story is taken into custody by state troopers, while an enraged crowd of students sees him off with the official (clenched fist) salute of international communism.

While I have Native American ancestry, and generally appreciate cinematic attempts to depict the lives and struggles of Native Americans, in conscience, I can only regard the message and pathos of this film to be rather lame --Sincerely in Christ, Jeff 'Quare fremerunt gentes?'.