Transformation: A brief Analysis of Thomas King's Medicine River and its Adapted Film
wear bone breastplates. The post card is also labeled "Native Indians". King points out that although he finds these postcards mildly comical in their ignorance, he is very quick to point out that these people all have their own names and identities (King 35-36).
The final important visual cue that was used in the movie, and not in the novel happened in the final scene. Will is asked to take a picture of all the community members in one picture. As he is about to take the picture, the group tells him to join them in the shot (Concorde Video). This scene symbolizes the community telling Will that "you have a home with us." At the moment Will joins in for the picture, he gives a big smile, and the movie ends. At this point Will's identity has changed, as he realizes that he knows where home is for now.
The movie is worth the rental. However, the novel deals with identity and memory in greater depth. Yet, no matter if we read the novel or watch the film adaptation, this story is a way for King to explore how identity is perceived and shaped. Fortunately for us, Thomas King shows us that using wit and writing powerful literature are far better ways to deal with ignorance than just presenting historical facts or heated emotions.
Bibliography
Christie, Stuart. Time Out: "(Slam)Dunking Photographic Realism in Thomas King's Medicine River." Studies in American Indian Literatures: The Journal of the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures 11.2 (1999 Summer):51-65
King, Thomas. Medicine River. Toronto: Penguin Canada. 1989.
King, Thomas. The Truth About Stories Anansironto: Incnsi Press Inc. 2003.
Medicine River. Screenplay by Thomas MacNaughton And Directed by Stuart Margolin. Videocasette. Concorde Video, 1993.
Medicine River Amazon.com.
On Campus Weekly. Home Page. University of Calgary. 7Nov.2003
Latest Articles