The Exiles

The Exiles is an “anti-theatrical” and “anti-social-documentary” film. It was conceived, not necessarily in protest against those two forms of film usage, but rather in search for a true and different format which would reveal the complex problems of the Indians in the city. Instead of leading an audience through an orderly sequence of problems-decisions-action and solution on the part of the characters, we sought to photograph the infinite details surrounding these people, to let them speak for themselves, and to let the fragments mount up. Then, instead of supplying a resolution, we hoped that somewhere in the showing, the picture would become, to the viewer, a revelation of a condition about which he will either do something, or not — whichever his own reaction dictates.

Der Film zeigt vierzehn Stunden aus dem Alltag amerikanischer Native Americans, die ihre Reservate verlassen haben, um in Los Angeles zu leben. Bei Einbruch der Nacht ziehen die jungen Männer los; sie trinken, spielen Karten, flirten mit Frauen, prügeln sich und tanzen. Die Apachin Yvonne geht allein ins Kino. Eine Kritikerin schrieb über die von den Laiendarsteller:innen mitentwickelten Szenen einer ziellosen Nacht: „Sie haben ihre Reservate und sich selbst verloren.“

The Exiles | R: Kent Mackenzie | USA 1961 | 72 min | O-ton Englisch (keine UT)