Analysis Of The Movie 'The Missing'

There are a lot of movies that have come out of Hollywood that contain aspects about how Natives lived. Usually, the depiction of Natives are far from the truth. Much of society’s views about these groups of people, even today, come from these misleading movies. The 2003 movie “The Missing” portrays elements of the Apache culture. Upon further investigation you can see that this movie in particular displays the identity of the Native American, more specifically the Apache people in negative and positive way.
Summary
Set in 1885 New Mexico, the movie begins with a woman (Maggie) and her two daughters (Lily and Dot) living on a ranch. One day a man shows up on the ranch looking for some hospitality, but he is actually Maggie’s estranged
Identity from an anthropological stand point refers to the uniqueness of a person or group and its qualities. The movie actually depicts their identity as a group of violent savages with mystical abilities. There are very few positive or insightful moments of what the true identity of the Apaches actually consists of. If this movie was someone’s only point of reference they would have an image of Apache people or even all Native Americans that is full of so many falsehoods. According to research, violence is not a way of life, it is a matter of bettering or helping yourself. Benedict refers back to a conversation between a father and son to explain the values of the Apache. "The father talks to his son. ‘My son you know no one will help you in this world.... No one is your friend, not even your sister, your father or your mother. Your legs are your friends; your brain is your friend; your eyesight is your friend; your hair is your friend; your hands are your friends; you must do something with them’. Warfare was oriented toward this "help" in strict terms of booty taken; neither coups nor scalps nor elaborate warpath ritual were integral parts Chiricahua [Apache] culture” (Benedict, 1942). The identity of these people was not accurately represented throughout the film. Throughout the film, both Samuel and the rebel group leader are depicted doing various rituals, which depicted an exaggeration of their spirituality, so much so it was almost magic. For example, the rebel leader finds a brush Maggie left behind and is able to make her fall extremely ill with his mystical powers and her connection to the brush. The only thing that helps cure this sickness is a spiritual necklace obtained from another Native. The whole situation seemed to lean more towards magic and mysticism than anything else. In reality the Apache people mostly use