Education of Little Tree Directed by Richard

¶ … Education of Little Tree" directed by Richard Friedenberg and "Thunderheart" directed by Michael Apted. Specifically it will compare and contrast the main characters search for their native roots in the two films. Each of these films shows Native Americans struggling to understand their roots and their heritage. They learn in different ways, but they both come to an understanding of who they are and what their heritage means to them.

Both Little Tree and Ray Levoi are part white and part Native American. Levoi is a Sioux and Little Tree is a Cherokee. Little Tree does not know he has a Native American background, while Levoi has tried to bury his in his subconscious. Their quests for their roots are similar because they learn from the elders of their tribes (Little Tree learns from his grandparents, too), and they learn about the history and culture of their people. They also learn how life can be very difficult for natives in white society, and that whites can be bigoted, prejudiced, and downright cruel in their treatment of Native Americans. Both are unfamiliar with Native American ways, and have to learn them from others, and both explore aspects of spirituality and the native "way." Little Tree looks at the Dog Star and realizes that it shines on his Granma too, while Levoi has visions that seem completely real to him.

Of course, both characters learn about their roots in different ways, too. Little Tree is young and impressionable, and has to learn not only about the Cherokee ways, but also about the natural world around him in rural Tennessee. He also learns hard lessons when social workers send him away to the Notched Gap Indian School, lessons about how whites treat the Native Americans. They essentially want them to "forget" they are Indians. They cannot speak native languages, they are given white names, and they are beaten and spanked if they misbehave. He also learns the lesson not to trust "Christians" when one sells him a diseased calf after he worked hard to earn the money for it. An obvious difference is the character's ages. Levoi is an adult with a life and a career, and no desire to acknowledge his Native American side; in fact, he does not want to go to the reservation and taunts Indians he meets with derogatory names. Levoi's story also takes place on a reservation, and it shows the dismal life the reservations provide for many of their residents. Both films show the way whites treat Native Americans in society, and neither few is very appealing.

Each character has success in discovering their roots and coming to terms with their background. Little Tree is reunited with his grandparents, and he understands true family love and acceptance by the end of the film. Levoi comes to a much better understanding of his heritage and culture, and comes to terms with himself. His beliefs are altered, and he becomes much more sensitive to his heritage and the plight of the people living on the reservation. As a result, he becomes more accepted in the Native community.