‘Natives’ Text Review

‘Natives’ is a short film about a couple, Anita and Rachel, who go visit Anita’s parents, in an Indian reservation. Anita does not have a strong relationship with her parents and is not open about her homosexuality with them. During their drive to Anita’s parents’ house, Rachel, who is not Native American, behaves very enthusiastically, knowing that she is going to meet Anita’s parents. They arrive and Rachel continues to be enthusiastic, expressing how beautiful she thought the area was and happens to watch the same TV series as Anita’s mother. As they go on with their stay, Anita remains indifferent. While they have dinner together, Anita’s father informs them about a voting event in their area. Rachel responds to him, and he asks her how she heard about it, which was through NPR. He chuckles after she tells him NPR, and Rachel is left confused. Rachel also confuses their post meal grace saying with the word “Yahweh” and begins to think that there could be a resemblance between Jews and Native Americans. Rachel is very eager make Anita’s parents aware of her relationship with Anita. Before they go out for a walk, Rachel finds a fascinating headband with a Native American design in their house, and wears it without asking. Later, Rachel walks into the kitchen and complements the smell of the food Anita’s mother is cooking. She again expresses her interest in Native American culture and wants to ask questions. She asks them if they’ve heard of the concept of two spirit, and that someone could be in between a man and a woman. Anita’s mother says shes heard of it, but this is does not exist in their tribe. Rachel is hurt and loses hope. She finds Anita outside and Anita confronts her and asks her if she would’ve ever dated her if she wasn’t Indian. They decide to go back to NYC and before they leave, Rachel wants to give back the headband but Anita’s mother says she can keep it. Rachel says she can’t, and Anita’s mother tells her its from Walmart. Rachel and Anita head back to NYC, along with the headband. https://www.filmdoo.com/films/natives/

 

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