Whisper of Art

Sur les Pas de Geronimo (translation : Into Geronimo’s Footsteps)  is a book by French author Corine Sombrun (see her interview also in this issue), written and published in French.

So, why this book? Well, there are different reasons as to why I made this choice.

First of all, I loved it. When I read it, I absolutely loved the way it is written. You feel like you are part of the journey, you meet Geronimo’s family, his roots; you travel throughout history, back and forth from the past to the present.

The fact that it has been written in collaboration with Harlyn Geronimo, Geronimo’s great grandson, adds a lot to the authenticity of the testimony given. It comes as a surprise to learn that previously no one had the idea to ask his direct descendant anything about Geronimo and his roots.

Furthermore, the book is written in an original format of having one chapter on Geronimo’s life, on history, while the next is on the present day time, where Harlyn Geronimo takes Corine Sombrun on a journey to the Gila River. During this trip we also learn about life as an Apache in the 21^st century; about the differences and common points between the Apache traditions and Mongolian ones. We also have an insight on Harlyn Geronimo’s life and fight as an Apache, an American and a medicine-man. Each chapter is separated by an Apache story or song, written in Apache and then transcribed into French.

The book is really funny at times. For example, at the beginning, when you find this French woman, who spent several months a year for the past few years living in a teepee in the Mongolian steppe, arriving on the Mescalero Indian Reservation and facing all these stereotypical ideas that she had of teepees and Indians, she quickly realized that there are casinos, motels and Wal Marts!

The book is very easy to read, you learn a lot, you have a great time, all in all a great book, good entertainment as well as educational. What more can we ask for?

The only unfortunate thing about this book is the fact that it hasn’t been translated into English yet… So for those of you who can read French, go for it, it’s worth the effort! For every one else, well, two possibilities exist: write to the publishing house Albin Michel to ask for a translation into English, or the alternative: learn French! 

                                            

                                              Film

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

 While thinking about which film I was going to write about in this issue, many great ones came to my mind. Beautiful films with great screenplays, magnificent sceneries, or just a unique storyline. However, I ended up writing about New Moon. Far from being a great film (don’t shoot me crazy teenage fans!!) it is still worth talking about. Of course, the film in itself doesn’t revolve around the tribe, but Native Americans, the Quileutes’ legends and the tribe in itself, have a major part to play.

Even though the story written by Stephenie Meyer is fictional, many points are actually part of our world. And Jacob is. That’s the point: the werewolves wouldn’t exist if the vampires didn’t. The books are seriously great: they are entertaining, well written and although I have heard many times that they are teenagers’ books, most of the adults I know have certainly enjoyed reading them a lot. All in all, I love the books, and it seems like I’m not the only one. But the films?

Well, Twilight was really good. It is a great film to watch for men and women, teenagers and adults (my fiancé wasn’t really motivated to watch it, but he ended up really liking it!). New Moon? Fans agree that it wasn’t as good as Twilight and certainly not as good as the book… but the fact that the actors interpreting the parts of Native Americans are Native Americans, in such a huge blockbuster, makes it a film worth watching. 

Furthermore, the action in this film and story are good, the special effects brilliant. And let’s not talk about the werewolves who are super sexy and muscular and half naked all the time. So girls can enjoy the picture (so can their mothers…). Director Chris Weitz and his team have done a good job in re-creating the reservation and the Blacks’ house.

As an extra bonus on the DVD, you meet the actors who play the werewolves and see them in light-hearted fun on the set, as well train before some of their scenes.

Finally, Native American actors who were unknown to the public are now famous worldwide thanks to this film. They were not cast as stereotypical roles for once, but instead as contemporary representatives of American Indians living on reservation land.

For all these reasons, the film is worth watching and I honestly look forward to the release of the third film of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse!