Buffalo Daze Offers Authentic Portrayal of Native Culture, Says Actor Mo Brings Plenty
In a bold departure from traditional Westerns, the film Buffalo Daze is being hailed for its authentic representation of Native American culture and history. Mo Brings Plenty, who stars in the film, spoke passionately about the project, emphasizing its groundbreaking nature and the unique approach it brings to the genre.
“To depict our history and culture correctly is always at the forefront of my passion, and Buffalo Daze does that,” Brings Plenty said. “Buffalo Daze is honestly a true depiction of who we are and where we come from as American Indian people. As Native actors, *Buffalo Daze* gives us the freedom to express ourselves, to show our triumphs, our struggles, and our resiliency.”
Brings Plenty, who portrays the historical figure Sam Resurrection, expressed his deep respect for the role. “I was truly honored to portray Sam Resurrection and to show what he stood for and who he was. There could be a whole movie just about him!” He continued, “I approached the role from our traditional perspective. When you look at life from the traditional perspective, it gives you the ability to understand what spirituality is. Spirituality is not a setting for prayer, it’s not a day, it’s not an hour; it is a life.”
He further elaborated on the spiritual significance of his character, saying, “When you look at spirituality from the perspective of life, Sam Resurrection is an individual that died and days later came back to life. Everybody knows the name Jesus Christ, but there were others from other cultures, including among our people, who experienced resurrection.”
Brings Plenty also praised the film’s director, Raen LeVell, for his approach to the project. “Raen gave me the freedom to become Sam. Not only that, but Raen created an atmosphere that allowed us, the actors, to be vulnerable enough to become the individuals that we were portraying. A director needs to create space for actors to embrace the emotional and spiritual perspectives of their characters, and he does that, which shows in the performances throughout *Buffalo Daze*. I loved working with Raen.”
Discussing the film’s unique qualities, Brings Plenty noted, “People always ask why they should watch a movie and what makes this movie different. With Buffalo Daze, that is easy to answer: education. The education system has failed us as human beings. God had a dream for the human race, which is coexistence. Cultural diversity is the ability to be true to who you are, but not to judge and persecute others for who they are. Buffalo Daze is critically important as it brings viewers an understanding of this in a subtle, entertaining, and educational way.”
In a final reflection on the film’s departure from traditional Westerns, Brings Plenty highlighted its lack of violence. “I was recently talking to a colleague about Kevin Costner’s movie Open Range, and how Open Range had no gunfire until the end. We said how crazy that was, in a good way. Now we have this Western, Buffalo Daze, with no gunfire at all! It’s unique, and I think it’s a very positive advancement to focus on life and the intricacies and emotions of some amazing people’s lives, instead of killing and death.”
Buffalo Daze is making waves not only for its innovative storytelling but also for its respectful and nuanced portrayal of Native American history and culture. With its fresh perspective and focus on genuine human experiences, the film is set to leave a lasting impact on audiences and the Western genre.
