Posted on 01/17/2006 10:17:51 PM PST by I'm ALL Right!
By Cal Thomas
January 18,2006
Tribune Media Services
Fifty years ago this month, five young missionaries were killed by an Ecuadorian tribe known to the world as the Auca Indians. Auca means savage. The tribe called itself, then and now, the Waodani. The real story isn't only the death of those five young men. It is also the incredible reconciliation that took place not long after, as relatives of the dead men returned to offer love and peace to the very people who had murdered their loved ones.
That incident and that reconciliation have been told in a remarkable new film to be released in 1,200 theaters this weekend. It's called "End of the Spear" and it is the finest film of its kind I have seen.
This isn't one of those liberal sob stories one hears in a debate about capital punishment. This is about the power of true forgiveness. It is unlike anything one sees in contemporary culture. Beautifully photographed in the rainforests of Panama, because the remote Waodani village in Ecuador could not sustain a film crew, "End of the Spear" uses Panamanian actors, who were coached by Waodani warriors brought in for the project. Some of those warriors also appear in the film.
"End of the Spear" is so moving you will not believe that it is director Jim Hanon's first feature film. Every Tribe Entertainment, (www.everytribe.com), the production company behind it, was founded by Oklahoma City businessman Mart Green, who grew up in a home so conservative he had never been to a movie theater. When Green heard Steve Saint tell the story of his father and the other missionaries who were speared to death in 1956 and saw Saint introduce "Mincaye," the man who killed Saint's father, Nate, he immediately saw the power in putting the story on film. As long as we are talking firsts, this is the first feature film by Every Tribe Entertainment and it is the first time the story has been told from the perspective of the Waodani. It is rated PG-13 for violence, but it is violence necessary to the story.
Director Hanon says the Waodani at first refused to cooperate, but when he told them about violence in American culture, like the Columbine shootings, they decided to participate. In a promotional DVD for the movie, Mincaye says, "The foreigners are living as angry and violent as we once did. But they could be living well. We changed. The foreigners (can change), too."
Does reconciliation work? Shortly after the missionaries were killed, the wife of one of the slain men and the sister of another went to live with the tribe. Within two years, the tribal homicide rate had dropped more than 90 percent. That beats any "tough on crime" approach in the United States.
Among the many remarkable ingredients in this film is that with the exception of the handful of American actors, the rest of the actors are amateurs. But the performances by the Panamanian Indians are as good and as convincing as anything you'll see coming from a professional cast.
All films carry messages ("Brokeback Mountain" is not just a movie about cowboys). In recent years, with some notable exceptions, many of those messages have appealed to our lower nature. "End of the Spear" is not only a true story, but also a compelling one. For those, like me, who have longed to go to movies that are uplifting instead of bottom feeding, this is one of the best.
"End of the Spear" is the latest in a steadily growing number of films that are taking on culture on its own turf. Instead of cursing darkness, more independent producers are beginning to make good movies (do not confuse "good" in content with bad in execution) containing positive messages.
This is a story that is not only worth retelling, but is worth emulating. A liberal neighbor of mine has a sign in his yard that reads, "War is not the answer." We can debate that, but we can't debate reconciliation as the answer. It works, as this marvelous movie so beautifully and breathtakingly demonstrates.
(Direct all MAIL for Cal Thomas to: Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y. 14207. Readers may also e-mail Cal Thomas at Cal@CalThomas.com.
(c) 2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist/Fox News Contributor P.O. Box 7065 Arlington, Virginia 22207-7065
OPENING WEEKEND IS CRUCIAL for indie films. Theaters will decide whether to keep the movie, drop it, or add it to more screens based on Box Office numbers THIS WEEKEND. This film will be showing on about 1200 screens nationwide including Regal Theaters, Cinemark, AMC and more.
To search for a showing in your area, and/or buy tickets, go to
You can also visit End Of The Spear to see the TRAILER and search for theaters in your area.
DARE TO MAKE CONTACT!
PLEASE GIVE THIS THREAD A BUMP! PING YOUR LISTS! FORWARD IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!
End of the Spear PING!
Another movie that just landed in my video store this week that sounds similar is one about "Living With Grizzlies" or something similar. I haven't seen it, but have heard that it is about this guy "becoming one with a grizzly bear".
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.
Thanks for the ping!
Thanks for that, nutmeg!
Happy to help. I just noticed the info in your post #2. I'll re-ping my FoxFan list.
It's late, so I'll be nice...
What do Grizzly bears have to do with reconciliation? You need to be on a "reincarnation" thread.
Seriously, did you even read the review, or are you posting to see your own name?
I think movie sounds incredible and since most of Hollywood is breaking it's arm to pat itself on the back for Brokeback mountain, I'm glad to know part of Hollywood got it right for once! I'll definitely go see it this weekend.
Steve Saint and Mincaye, the subjects of this movie, will be on Fox and Friends this Thursday morning and on Hannity and Colmes this Thursday night (1/19/06).
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.
Thanks for telling me about this film, even though our family does not frequent movie theaters, we will talk about it with our friends.
I can't remember the name of it now but I bought the book by one of these women at a garage sale years ago. It's an amazing story. She went into the jungle with her toddler daughter and lived with the tribe that killed her husband... for a year I think. I saw the promo for this movie and hoped it was based on that story. Does anyone know the name of that book?
I, too, will be nice. The End of the Spear sounds like a feel-good, huggie/feelie type movie, which I wanted to link to another recent movie which I think is in a similar vein, with a possibly much different ending. I happen to see a parallel in the civilized/primitive juxtaposition of both movies.
The Internet Movie Data Base does not have any reference to a film called "Living with Grizzlies." It does have a film called "Grizzly Man." If this is the film you are referring to you might want to read the story line of the movie.
Yes, Grizzly Man is the movie that I was referring to. As I siad, I did not rent it, just discussed it with the clerk. About a guy who became one with the grizzly.
Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot
Not at all a feel-good, huggie/feelie type movie, but an incredible story. I hope you'll see it before you judge it.
Oh, and it is that story, but told from the perspective of Steve Saint (whose father was Nate Saint, one of the missionaries) and Mincaye, one of the Waodani Indians.
I do believe that I will see it when it comes to Hollywood Video.
I read Through Gates of Splendor many years ago. As soon as I saw the preview for End of the Spear, I knew it had to be based on that book. I'm not a big movie-goer, but I just might get out this weekend to see it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.