I saw this wonderful film many years ago and loved it. Although I have a copy of the excellent Rattlesnake Productions Documentary done for American Experience and narrated by Linda Hunt, the film starring Joseph Runningfox as a young Ishi has a deep emotional impact - guaranteed to make you cry. Ishi never talked about his time before he emerged from his hiding place, so the film with Dennis Weaver and Joseph Runningfox is speculative. Neverheless, I believe the story that it tells is probably very close to the way it must have been for Ishi, his mother, sister and grandfather as the last of the Yahi remained in hiding. By the way, the film does NOT give the impression that other tribes contributed to the genocide of the Yahi - instead it is quite clear that the bounty on Native Americans was responsible. My Grantfather's brother was an intern under Dr. Saxton Pope, who took care of Ishi when he became ill with tuberculosis. My Grandfather would sometimes go with his brother to visit Ishi and our family has always been very interested in Ishi's story. While the Rattlesnake Productions Documentary is the gold standard for the real story of Ishi, the 1978 TV movie is worth watching for the deeper emotional impact, even if the flash backs to Ishi's life prior to his coming out of hiding are only speculation on the probable lives of the last Yahi while they remained in hiding from the outside world.
4 Reviews
superb, deeply touching
asinyne13 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
i saw this movie many, many years ago when it first ran on television. At the time i felt it was superb in every respect. Similar in many ways to windwalker which came along a bit later. As i recall, a very small band of indians survive a big attack by a rival tribe. This tiny group struggles against all odds to keep their traditions and tribe going. This soon proves to be impossible and the film becomes a tragic diary of loss and sadness. Eventually only Ishi survives to tell the tale. This film is far superior to most of the stuff produced by television during the late seventies. I would recommend it highly, especially to those interested in native American culture. And of course the tale of perseverance and fading hope mirrors the human tragedy that we all must endure as we travel down the path to our inevitable demise. This is a deeply emotional film about a journey towards the end of everything one man held so dear in his youth. Not a lot different from the way we all must lose most of the things that we took so for granted once upon a time. Ishi's tale is just a bit more scenic, organic, and dramatic. I'd love a chance to catch this one again.
This review may contain spoilers.
urbisoler-18 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I rate this film very highly, not because of film quality, acting, sets, etc., but because of Ishi's story whether embellished or not. I was so moved by this sad tale that I sought out other sources of information. I have seen film clips in libraries of Ishi at the Berkeley Museum and in the field around the scenes of his life and capture. I have a copy of the Theodora Kroeber book upon which the film was based which includes the famous photo of Ishi when he was captured in August 29, 1911. I planned on using that photo in a book I was writing. I was discouraged by the rights holders of said photo declaring in their usual liberal claptrap manner that I didn't want the tribes of Northwest California protesting my treatment of Ishi by exposing that photo as ridicule of Ishi. I still intend on using the photo. You can blame the white man for the demise of the Yahi tribe but please read about the demise of other populations throughout history. This is a tale of how mankind has developed over a long period of time. Much of it is not pretty but it is what it is. You might long for an idealized world of your imagination but this is what we have. Make it better if you can but mankind is aggressive by nature. It is all part of the human condition. I wish I had the film. Ciao!
Plot summary
CitizenLen7 November 2007
I haven't seen this movie but I've seen the documentary. The main culprit of their extinction was genocide by the white population incl. disease and starvation. However, why is it in the plot summary it says they clash with other tribes which sounds like it lead to their ultimate demise. If this is how the movie is, then it's another Hollywood propaganda sensitizing the truth. The Yahi was exterminated by white people, by the time of Ishi feuding tribes were unheard of because they've been eradicated by that time. So, I wonder how many flaws and false information are in this movie.
Also, Ishi wasn't found on a horse. He was found hiding in a barn and the owner pushed him down in fear.
Also, Ishi wasn't found on a horse. He was found hiding in a barn and the owner pushed him down in fear.
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