#rather than acknowledge our full and extant lives and happiness and victories and literal current existence

[shadeslayer]

Hollywood likes the idea of an Indigenous story with Indigenous characters, but is uncomfortable with the reality and truth that Indigenous storytellers and actors bring to the table. They are more comfortable with the illusion of authenticity, and usually "authenticity" translates to traumatic depictions of Indigenous suffering and pain.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" opens up with a preface by Scorsese, who talks about how he's been wanting to make this film for a long time. He calls the project "proper and authentic." I am reminded of "The Revenant," and how it was praised for its authenticity and "respect." Authenticity is a euphemism non-Native filmmakers use for what Natives call "trauma porn." They think showing the absolute worst of what happened to us in grisly detail is somehow respecting us.

Instead of taking control of the narrative, they could merely put their names on the projects and let Indigenous directors, writers, and producers tell the stories that they want to tell instead of just hiring cultural consultants that can be ignored, overruled, and disregarded. If Scorsese was as passionate about the authenticity of this story as he said, this would have been the best course of action.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" Proves Hollywood Isn't Making Movies for Native Women Like Me" - Ali Nahdee