Anthropology – translates into 'study of man', but has increasingly become 'science of man', just as biology has become 'science of life' rather than 'study of life'. By now every field has been invaded by science, and any proposition, in any field, is considered valid only if it can be proved by the scientific method of testing on the basis of clear and indisputable evidence (even what constitutes evidence is up for grabs – and the final arbitrator is a consensus or majority amongst the scientific community). Opinions are laughed at and logical or even knockdown arguments count for nothing. Consequently, fields like anthropology have become graveyards of meaningless collections of data about various kinds of people. Art has therefore become the last and ultimate form of expression for exploration into fields like anthropology, philosophy and history, and without art, all these fields of human endeavor are effectively dead.
In a movie like this, as in any art form, the focus should not be on 'factual details' (facts by themselves do not convey ideas) but how well the characters and ideas have been presented or articulated in order for us to learn or gain insight into human nature in general and into specific persons in particular. Ishi has been represented very well by Graham Green, a very talented actor. Ishi comes through as a shy, reserved, quiet and dignified man who has somehow survived as the last of his tribe, and running out of food, wanders into a farm but is captured. Kroeber, who is an anthropologist is excited by having found a 'subject' whose tribal language he knows, and takes charge of Ishi by providing him a job at the museum. There is abundant curiosity on both sides, and prompted by his wife, Kroeber develops a more passionate relationship with Ishi, and this relationship is the crux of the movie – that idea that anthropology is more about how different kinds of people relate with and learn from each other rather than study the other from a vantage point.
The high points of the movie are 1) some of the townspeople come to the rail station to see off Ishi and in a touching gesture present him a basket of fruit 2) the conversation between Kroeber and his wife about Ishi and the tribe's myth of the afterlife. "There is one thing about facing death – I'm not afraid to let anything into my heart anymore."3) the outdoor shots when Ishi is taken to his home lands which are still un-spoilt and beautiful 4) the beautiful musical score at the beginning and end.
The choice that Ishi makes of not going to a reservation gives me a sneaky feeling that Ishi was the real anthropologist who learned the most from his interaction with a different culture, and this learning would go with him on his journey beyond – "I feel strong. I could travel forever." Wonderful ending.
In a movie like this, as in any art form, the focus should not be on 'factual details' (facts by themselves do not convey ideas) but how well the characters and ideas have been presented or articulated in order for us to learn or gain insight into human nature in general and into specific persons in particular. Ishi has been represented very well by Graham Green, a very talented actor. Ishi comes through as a shy, reserved, quiet and dignified man who has somehow survived as the last of his tribe, and running out of food, wanders into a farm but is captured. Kroeber, who is an anthropologist is excited by having found a 'subject' whose tribal language he knows, and takes charge of Ishi by providing him a job at the museum. There is abundant curiosity on both sides, and prompted by his wife, Kroeber develops a more passionate relationship with Ishi, and this relationship is the crux of the movie – that idea that anthropology is more about how different kinds of people relate with and learn from each other rather than study the other from a vantage point.
The high points of the movie are 1) some of the townspeople come to the rail station to see off Ishi and in a touching gesture present him a basket of fruit 2) the conversation between Kroeber and his wife about Ishi and the tribe's myth of the afterlife. "There is one thing about facing death – I'm not afraid to let anything into my heart anymore."3) the outdoor shots when Ishi is taken to his home lands which are still un-spoilt and beautiful 4) the beautiful musical score at the beginning and end.
The choice that Ishi makes of not going to a reservation gives me a sneaky feeling that Ishi was the real anthropologist who learned the most from his interaction with a different culture, and this learning would go with him on his journey beyond – "I feel strong. I could travel forever." Wonderful ending.