Dreamkeeper should prove enthralling to anyone interested in Native American myths and legends. A variety of tribal folklore provides the episodic thrust of this typical Hallmark production under the direction of Hallmark regular Steve Barron--in telling the story of a resentful Lakota teenager (Eddie Spears) who reluctantly agrees to drive his wise old grandfather (August Schellenberg) from their South Dakota "rez" to an All-Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Along the way, the tradition-bound elder serves as tribal "dreamkeeper" for his initially resistant grandson, who gradually realizes that his grandfather's stories--visualized through effects-laden reenactments involving all manner of magic and mystery--are essential in preserving the fading cultures of the Lakota and the several other tribes whose folklore depends on unbroken generations of oral tradition. It captures many true details of the culture and passes on the spirit of the native american culture.
This movie will have you laughing, crying, and excited as each story is told. This movie is recommended to anyone who is willing to open their heart, mind, and soul, and learn what it means to walk the Red Road. It will open your soul to the beauty abound and maybe even begin you on your own journey. The best of all, there is a beautiful message for all teenagers and everybody. There is beauty in this world still, and within the soul of man. That's what makes a man beautiful: his/her soul! "There is no word for I or me, only we and us." This movie deserves wider acknowledgement as a moving testimony to the power of "myth". Dreamkeeper is true to its title. We need more movies like this one. Run Time: 180
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