Mormon Movie Reviews: Bitter Wind (1963)

Welcome brothers and sisters to Mormon Movie Reviews: Where LDS movie lovers belong! My name is Dives, today is Oct 8, 2022, this is episode 34 and will we be reviewing 

Bitter Wind (1963)

https://youtu.be/q5HahApUeMQ

Running time: 30 minutes

This review works best if you have seen this film before, though that is not required.

Spoiler alert

Synopsis

Billy is a simple Native American shepherd boy living on the Navajo reservation. His father George heads a tightnit and prosperous Navajo family who starts to occasionally drink with friends, coming home to a tongue-lashing from his wife Nellie. A gifted silversmith, George gradually begins to neglect his work, which provides much of the family income. Then he begins to sell off horses, goats, and pawn his silver jewelry to pay for his habit. Billy leaves his childhood home to further his education while Uncle Bitaani chides George about his drinking to no avail. At first, Nellie begs George to stop drinking but eventually she starts getting drunk as well. Billy returns from school and he and old Aunt Dezba are the only ones left to look after the needs of the younger children, they face hunger and the bitter winds of the harsh winter. With fleeting hope, Billy searches for his parents, hoping to find redemption. 

You may be wondering what any of this has to do with the COJCOLDS

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Placement_Program 

The Indian Placement Program (IPP) or Indian Student Placement Program (ISPP), also called the Lamanite Placement Program,[1] t had its peak during the 1960s and 1970s. Native American students were placed in foster homes oof LDS members during the school year or LDS run boarding schools. 

The program was developed according to LDS theology, whereby conversion and assimilation to Mormonism could help Native Americans, who had been classified as Lamanites in terms of theology in the Book of Mormon. An estimated 50,000 Native American children went through the program.[2][3] The foster placement was intended to help develop leadership among Native Americans and assimilate them into majority-American culture. The cost of care was borne by the foster parents, and financially stable families were selected by the church. Most of these placements took place on the Navajo Nation, with a peak participation of 5,000 students in 1972. The program decreased in size after the 1970s, due to criticism, changing mores among Native Americans, and restriction of the program to high school students as schools improved on reservations. Many of the students and families praised the program; others criticized it and the LDS Church for weakening the Native Americans' ties to their own cultures.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermountain_Indian_School

Conclusion 

Spencer W. Kimball wrote in a personal letter that the American Indians would not fully understand and embrace the gospel until they were removed from deterrent influences of their traditions and upbringing. 

Letter from Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Church Library.

Sadly, there is some truth behind some of the films stereotypes  

https://www.wmicentral.com/news/latest_news/alcohol-poverty-take-deadly-toll-in-navajo-county/article_b27888fb-5b20-5248-99e7-8033217e94d7.html

Crushing poverty, lack of access to health care, high unemployment, and shorter lifespans

In general conference while referencing lamanties, Spencer Kimball said

Thanks so much for joining me to review this film, please like, subscribe, leave a comment, and join us next time for another episode of the MormonMovieReviews: Where LDS Movie Lovers Belong. So long.

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