Shannon Shaw Duty
Special to ICT
OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN — As I type this, my husband and I are on our way home from Cannes, France, having attended the world premiere of the upcoming film, “Killers of the Flower Moon” at the Cannes Film Festival.
We’re currently traveling at 506 mph at 33,000 feet and are somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. We still have four-and-a-half hours to go until we land in Atlanta. I think my current position in the sky is a perfect metaphor for this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
I recently covered the Cannes Film Festival. My husband Jason and I walked the red carpet for the world premiere of Martin Scorsese’s film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” I wore my traditional Osage clothes for the occasion. We attended a Hollywood after-party in a chateau that looked like it was straight out of “The Great Gatsby.” I interviewed the stars of the new film and had a one-on-one interview with the legendary director.
And if that isn’t enough, I interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Let me just say, I am very grateful to the people who helped/allowed this to happen. At any time, Apple could have denied me access, but they didn’t. Osage Nation officials could have denied me access, but they didn’t. So, from the deepest part of my heart and soul, Thank You for allowing me to be part of this fantastic adventure.
And if you’ll allow me, I’ll tell you what it was all like, and a little about myself.
Small-town girl
First thing to know about me is that I am a cinephile. This means I am a lover of motion pictures.
Ever since I was a girl growing up at 328 N. 4th Street in Fairfax, Okla., I have imagined attending a film festival. There’s not a whole lot to do in a town with a population of less than 3,000. I was either watching a movie, reading or writing.
Many afternoons I would sit on the floor in my mother’s room, preferably in the spots warmed by the afternoon sunlight, and turn the pages of her latest Vanity Fair. I imagined myself walking down the red carpet in a beautiful gown with hundreds of photographers taking my photo.
As I got older, I began taking my mother’s magazine but it wasn’t for the gowns, it was to read the latest profile of an up-and-coming actor, or to read a review of a new film. My mother and I would see as many films as we could and then excitedly await awards season to see who took home the Golden Globe or Oscar.
So, while other kids were being raised on John Hughes, I was raised on Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, James Cameron, Penny Marshall, Quentin Tarantino, and countless others. Nothing wrong with John Hughes, it’s just my mother and I had a penchant for the more dramatic.
When I attended the University of Oklahoma, I wanted to be a writer, but specifically, a film critic. I took hours and hours of film and video studies classes – they were my favorite. Muskogee director Sterlin Harjo was in one of my classes, but I don’t think he remembers me, but I remember him. He stood out even then.
Read more:
— ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ first look
— Lily Gladstone cast in upcoming Martin Scorsese film
— Actress Lily Gladstone on verge of stardom
— ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ debuts in Cannes to thunderous applause
— Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio turn spotlight toward Osage Nation
At the time when I was coming out of journalism school in the early 2000s, online journalism wasn’t a thing and any film critic at a newspaper basically had to die before they’d give up that spot, so I had to pivot to something else. But, it was always my dream.
I also grew up around a lot of artists, writers and poets. My grandfather is a writer, my aunts all attended the Institute of American Indian Arts, for jewelry, painting, museum studies, etc. I was used to seeing pages and pages out of magazines of beautiful clothing and jewelry from the stars plastered on the walls.
Applying for Cannes
I have covered the making of “Killers of the Flower Moon” from day one.
When the rumors began swirling that the film would make its world premiere at Cannes, I began asking questions. No one would give me a straight answer but I was used to that. Ever since filming began, I’ve had to go to several different sources continuously to confirm information I have heard. Once I got the green light I approached my Editorial Board to feel them out. They enthusiastically said yes and I began to actually think about attending the festival.
I’m married with six kids, five at home and one in college, and I have several responsibilities on my plate. I sit on our local school board, I’m a board member for two national journalism organizations, I’m the editor of the Osage News, the Osage Nation’s official independent media. My son Joseph is on a competitive soccer team, and my son George is the Grayhorse Drumkeeper. The Osage cultural responsibilities surrounding my son George come first, above all else. So, I immediately convinced myself that I wasn’t going to go. I had too many responsibilities.
It was December and I thought, well, maybe just look into it. I found out that the Cannes Film Festival is predominantly for film industry professionals and journalists, and you can’t just show up, you have to be accredited and pre-approved.
I thought it would be a win to just find out if I would be accepted to cover the festival. Couldn’t hurt, right? I applied and got in. I told my board and they said, “book your travel.”
I was afraid to tell my family at first, I thought they would disapprove, but they were excited and happy for me. My mother was over-the-moon and almost started crying. But I had to ask my son George, too. He smiled and told me it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and “you and dad never get to go anywhere, I want you to have fun.” So, with their blessing, we booked our travel.
While everyone around me was excited, I was beginning to feel the pressure.
May 17, day one – the trailer
The trip had finally arrived and Jason and I flew to Atlanta and had a seven-hour layover. We then boarded our plane for Nice, France. Below, I have written out for you some essential tasks to make your life easier if traveling out of the country:
- Get your passport early, at least 4-6 months in advance if you can. We applied about two months in advance and cut it really close. It’s just unnecessary stress you don’t need.
- Let your bank know that you will be traveling in another country during the days you’re gone so your credit cards/debit cards will work.
- Whichever phone carrier you use, make sure you purchase an International Daily Pass or whichever international calling plan that best suits your budget, so your phone will work. Getting to a foreign country and not being able to use your phone is a nightmare.
- Learn some basic phrases in the foreign language of the country you’re attending. This will save you some time and embarrassment.
- Make sure you have at least $100 dollars in foreign currency before going to another country. You can do so at a currency exchange place in the airport (they charge exorbitant fees), or you can hit up an ATM in that country when you get there.
- Before booking your hotel, make sure your hotel doesn’t book by the person. If so, make sure you’re prepared to pay per person.
- Download WhatsApp. You can send messages, photos, make calls on WiFi and it’s free. This will save you a ton of money and you won’t use all your data. Facebook and Instagram messenger also work.
- Check your weather app before you pack for your trip, and always take an umbrella.
All of these things may sound really obvious, but they weren’t for us. I could blame our busy schedules for not being better prepared, but we just weren’t prepared. When we landed in Nice, it was a nightmare with our phones. We couldn’t even get onto the WiFi at the airport. And while we had cleared our bank cards to work in France, our driver’s bank was from Amsterdam and our cards wouldn’t work. Luckily, we had the amount needed in Euros, but that one taxi ride took all our cash.
Once we got to our hotel, the woman behind the front desk, well, I’m not going to name her because I’m afraid she’ll fly to America just to roll her eyes at me and give me a little snide giggle. As we were suffering this woman, the delegation from the Cherokee Nation walked in and they were staying in our same hotel! Jennifer Loren, Jeremy Charles and Tava Maloy Sofsky were standing behind us waiting to check in. All the Natives in the same hotel, what are the odds?!
Our room was about the size of our bathroom at home. When I would be working at the tiny desk at the foot of our bed, my husband would have to roll across the bed to get to the tiny bathroom. But hey, we were in Cannes so we were just happy to be there.
The food, oh, the food. I’m sure the cuisine we tried you can find in any big American city, but the bakeries. Très magnifique! If you’re a lover of bread, like I am, this is your culinary heaven. While we were there I tried every style of croissant I could and regularly ordered baguettes, beignets, and other delicious pastries. Have I ever told you my theory about beignets and the French influence on Osage culture? And that’s why we have square frybread? Well, maybe some other time.
By the time we left, we had a little smorgasbord of bread and pastries I had bought on a whim but never ate. Jason made sure to package it all up and left them for the maid with a nice note. I hope she took them home. It would be a shame for all those delicious treats to go to waste.
Just as we had settled into our room and unpacked, I received an email from Apple that the trailer for the film would be dropping the next day and they had provided me with a link to view it so that I could write an article in tandem with its release.
I sat at my computer for a few seconds and stared at the screen. The trailer was finally here. Osages had been waiting for over a year to see this, and here it was. I clicked on the link and held my breath.
May 18, day two – jet lag
Jet lag is a real thing and it zapped our entire second day, except for when I was lucid enough to keep writing about the trailer. Cannes is seven hours ahead from our central time zone in the U.S. We woke up around 10 a.m., got something to eat. Came back to the room and I began finishing my article.
Our friends, Osage artists and siblings, Dante Biss-Grayson and Addie Roanhorse, were also in town and Dante was getting his fashion line ready for the next day. After I finished my article and posted it, Jason and I caught a taxi over to the College International de Cannes, which was along the beachline of the Riviera.
We get there and of course are a bit lost, trying to find an entrance. Addie comes out two beautiful big blue doors onto the street and greets us with a jubilant “Bonjour!” and we go inside. She leads us through a courtyard where Indigenous models are practicing their walk and getting fitted for their “look” they would be modeling. Dante greets us and I swear, I’ve never seen that guy in a bad mood. He gives us both giant hugs and shows us around.
What it must be like to live in this fashion world, surrounded by beautiful things, encouraged to constantly create and create. I don’t know how they do it, but I sincerely respect his work ethic and abilities.
We say our goodbyes and head out into the bustling city once more. We arrived back at our hotel room, I wish to change because it has become very warm outside, and Jason said he wants to shut his eyes for a minute. I said okay and lay down too – and we were out! We both jolted awake around 5 p.m. The accreditation office closed at 6 p.m. and I needed to obtain my press badge.
Our hotel was only about six blocks away from the festival so we booked it over there. On our way, my good friend and colleague, Allison Herrera of KOSU called and she was already at the festival. I’m excited to meet up with her when we see Indigenous comedian and actor Tatanka Means and his beautiful wife Christine. Tatanka plays undercover FBI agent John Wren in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
We joked around for a bit and wondered in awe about the circumstances that put us all there. Just a bunch of Natives hanging out on the French Riviera. Tatanka has been around the Osage people many times before and has come to our family’s home for sweat lodge. He and his wife are good people.
We go our separate ways and I meet up with Allison. It’s always good to have an Indigenous friend around to help you out. She shows me where to get my press badge and I make it just in time. We then go to the front of the Grand Théâtre Lumière and do some promos for our news sites. There seems to be thousands of people everywhere and I look up at one of the many flat screens posted around the grounds and see Harrison Ford on the red carpet. That’s right, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is premiering that evening and all the stars are arriving. I had forgotten.
Who didn’t grow up loving Indiana Jones? I watched as Harrison Ford entered the theater to a standing ovation. It was surreal.
Cannes is beautiful, it’s a coastal city with palm trees and exotic flowers. It has the feel and look of New Orleans, mixed with the feel and look of southern California, with its ocean views and Hollywood hills.
At Cannes, films make their world premieres in the evening, and then there are journalist screenings the next day. If you’re an extremely lucky individual, you can get a ticket on the Cannes Film Festival’s online portal, or you can be like us and wait in the “Last Minute Line” and hope to get in.
May 19, day three – ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’
One could conceivably be an accredited journalist for the Cannes Film Festival and never get a ticket to a screening. That’s how Allison and I felt after striking out again and again on the Cannes online portal for journalists. We just could not score a ticket – to anything! So, we made up our minds that we would arrive at the festival at 7:30 a.m. and stand in the “Last Minute Line” in hopes of getting in to see the 8:30 a.m. journalist screening of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” I wasn’t taking no for an answer.
I got up the next day at 6:30 a.m. and felt like I had been hit by a truck. My weather app said it would be raining all day and cold. I got dressed, grabbed my umbrella and took off walking. I arrived at the line about 7:40 a.m. Allison was on her way.
There were about 50 people in line by the time I got to the front. I showed my badge and they said “You’re in the wrong line, the ‘Last Minute Line’ is over there.” And just like in the movies, I looked over and there had to be a few hundred people standing in the other line. My heart sank. I trudged over to the snaking line, still determined and hopeful.
Allison finally joined me in line and we overheard some Cannes festival staff saying there was a line for journalists. We saw what looked like people cutting to a different entrance and we decided to take our chances. Turns out it WAS a line for journalists. That was us! We flashed our “Presse” badges and they let us in. Oh, the jubilation, I could have screamed! It felt like I had made the winning shot in a basketball game. I took out my phone and recorded us as we ran up the red carpet to see the world premiere of Indiana Jones. I will never forget that moment, for as long as I live. I won’t spoil the film for you, but it is wonderful.
The rest of the afternoon I became familiar with the lay of the land at the festival. Visiting the press rooms and familiarizing myself with the locations of the different theaters.
As I was making my way back to the hotel, a representative from Apple contacted me and said they would be by at 4:25 p.m. for an event they would like for me to attend. I said okay and prepared.
A Mercedes van pulled up and I met the Apple representative and we were off. In the van, she told me that we were on our way to a restaurant where I would meet Tim Cook, Apple CEO. News photos of Cook began flashing through my mind. We drove along the coast for a bit and arrived at a restaurant that was surrounded by yachts and boats of all sizes. Inside, I met more Apple staff, who have all been incredibly kind and could quite possibly rule the world and make it a better place.
Inside I could see Cook, other gentlemen and our Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and Osage Nation ambassador to the film, Chad Renfro. We all greeted each other and then Standing Bear and Renfro were whisked away to their next appointment. Cook was gracious and candid about why Apple wanted to make “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
“It’s a part of our history that a lot of people don’t know about so a lot of people will be discovering this story for the very first time. It’s vivid to you, but it won’t be for the vast majority of people who see it. It will be something new and people will wonder how it could have happened and so I think there will be a lot of lessons people take from it,” Cook said. “So that’s what it’s about for us, it’s about making a difference, just like we try to do with our products, enrich people’s lives, we try to do that with the films that we show.”
We sat and visited for a minute and then Cook and his team were whisked away to their next appointment. I was taken back to our hotel and I said my goodbyes to the Apple staff.
My husband and I hurriedly got ready for an Indigenous Fashion Show that Dante was the headlining designer for and we had about 15 minutes to get there. Dante, who is based out of Taos, N.M., used to live in Pawhuska for a time and was my husband’s boss. Dante and his wife Yanti are excellent, kind and gracious people. We love spending time with them and knew his fashion show would be amazing.
It was more than just a fashion show, it was performance art. The show began with Dante saying a poem about the Osage Reign of Terror and then a violinist began playing. It was a beautiful track as the models came out wearing capes made with custom fabric that had newspaper clippings about the Reign of Terror and the trial of William K. Hale and Ernest Burkhart. It was haunting. After that portion of the show was over, his fashion line came out. The lace, the colors, the ribbons, everything, I would wear every piece. The models looked amazing and we were so proud of our friend.
After the show we gathered all Osages, individuals who worked on the film and friends for a group photo. To my pleasant surprise, Osage tribal citizen Marca Cassity was there with her wife Kate Costello. Marca is amazing. She is a musician and Resilience Therapist and we had an amazing conversation about historical trauma and how the Osage Nation is going to approach that after the film is released in October. Stay tuned for an upcoming story about these efforts in the Osage News.
May 20, day four – the premiere
The big day had arrived. Jason and I had made sure to set our clothes out for the premiere to make sure everything had a chance to breathe and de-wrinkle.
Three weeks prior, we didn’t know if Jason would be allowed to attend the premiere, we had good indication a ticket could be secured but just in case, he bought a tuxedo in Tulsa before we left. Premieres at the Cannes Film Festival have a strict dress code and if the invitation says “Black Tie” you have to wear a tuxedo or you won’t be admitted. It’s the same for women, they must be dressed in a gown.
When I had received the news that I would be secured a ticket, I was told Cannes officials were granting special permission to the Osage people to wear their traditional clothing. Something that had never been allowed before. I thought to myself, “What is the most beautiful thing I own? My Osage clothes.”
I immediately drove to Tulsa and picked out material for a new shirt. My mother, a very accomplished seamstress, offered to make it for me, or, she told me she was making it for me, whichever you prefer. Her sewing skills are far more superior than my own so I’m not going to argue with her.
I needed something shiny and unique, something flashy but not gaudy. I have admired the work of Osage tribal citizen Jennifer Tiger for some time, so I reached out to her and commissioned two Osage women’s pins from her company WaPaKa for my shirt and long earrings to match – and I wanted them made out of copper to contrast with the black lace of my shirt.
I have always wanted a fully beaded pair of moccasins. I reached out to moccasin maker, beadworker and all-around tribal regalia expert, Margaret Bird.
They all delivered. Jennifer delivered the pins and earrings the day before I left and they are so beautiful. Margaret delivered the moccasins and again, I was awestruck by the artistry. My mother and I did a dry run of my Osage clothes, changing this shirt for that, and these beads for that, until we settled on what I finally wore.
As Jason and I got dressed and ready in our tiny little hotel room in Cannes, emotion flooded over me. I thought about why we were there, about the film, about the murders of my people and the world was about to finally see it. I parted my hair down the middle and painted it red as my ancestors did. I prayed.
It was sprinkling outside. I had decided not to bring my priceless ribbonwork blanket out in the rain, so it stayed in the hotel room. We called for a taxi but it never came, Uber was not wanting to work on my phone or Jason’s phone. We had no choice but to walk to the festival.
Walking the streets of Cannes, decked out in my finest Osage clothes drew a lot of attention. It was as if we were street performers and people were wanting to take our pictures and give us money. We powered on and I tried to walk on the driest patches of the sidewalk.
We finally arrived with our tickets and got in line. We had been told we wouldn’t be on the red carpet and that we would be entering a side entrance for everyone else. The red carpet is for the stars.
As we inched closer I could see the red carpet and everyone was screaming. Who was everyone looking at? We had arrived an hour early and surely the stars weren’t arriving yet. I looked over and it was Salma Hayek! I couldn’t help myself and I rushed over to the fence to have a look. I took out my phone and began to record. One of the ushers was on me in less than a second, waving her hand in front of my phone. I quickly apologized, but I was starstruck. Jason and I stood there as she posed for the cameras and made her way up the carpet.
As soon as she finished one of the ushers began telling us to move along. We prepared to walk to the sidewalk and then he looked at Jason with a very mean grimace and said, “You two, come on,” then motioned for us to walk on the red carpet. We looked at each other and Jason smiled and said, “shall we?” He took my hand and we began walking.
I was so stunned that I almost laughed, but we walked up the red carpet like we belonged and made our way up the stairs. We were both very nervous and thought at any moment someone would tell us to get off, but that didn’t happen. When we got to the top of the stairs, Salma was standing there talking to one of the festival organizers and I said, “Hello Salma.” She looked me up and down and said, “Oh! Hello!” She kind of reached for me, as if to hug me, but I was so scared I turned away and ran. Hands down, she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in person.
Once inside we showed our tickets to the usher. I assumed we would be up high in the balcony, where I had sat for Indiana Jones, but we were led to the front row of the mezzanine. That’s where we met Washington Post reporter Jada Yuan and Canadian film critic Radheyan Simonpillai. They were both staking out positions for the best optimal viewing and for taking photos of the crowd.
Cannes was broadcasting the red carpet live and it was showing on the theater’s screen while we all waited. I beamed with pride as Chief Standing Bear, his wife Julie, Chad Renfro, Talee Redcorn and Yancey Red Corn came down the red carpet. Julie in her Osage clothes and the men wearing their blankets. “History in the making,” “Osages on a World Stage,” I thought to myself. Osages walking the red carpet at one of the world’s biggest and historic film festivals. Who would have ever thought?
I was also so very proud of Indigenous actors Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion, Tantoo Cardinal, Tatanka Means and William Belleau. Tatanka danced on the red carpet, which I thought was awesome.
Inside the theater we waited and as they began to come in everyone stood up and cheered and gave them all a standing ovation for about five minutes.
That also meant the film was about to begin. I got butterflies in my stomach.
Throughout the film, I think I saw every Osage I knew that had been rumored to be in the film, or that I saw on set. Odds are, if you were an extra or had a bit part for a speaking role, you’re going to find yourself on screen at some point. There are a ton of Osages in the film, which was a huge relief.
After the film was over, and our lives were changed forever, we were invited to an after party, the other hottest ticket in town. Now, I promised the organizers I wouldn’t report on the party and I won’t, but let’s just say – if you saw the 2019 film, “The Great Gatsby,” it was something like that. If you follow Osage artist Addie Roanhorse or Yancey Red Corn on Facebook or Instagram, you can see pictures of all who were there. It was a star-studded affair. Unforgettable.
May 21, day five – the interviews
I’ve been trying to get interviews with the film’s actors since before filming began. I got word two days prior that I would be interviewing the following groups:
- Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro
- Jesse Plemons, Tatanka Means, William Belleau
- Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, Jillian Dion
- Yancey Red Corn and Talee Redcorn
- Marianne Bower, Daniel Lupi, Bradley Friedkin and Chief Standing Bear
Needless to say, I was getting access to all the major players of the film and I was interviewing them solo. I was nervous. I met a gentleman the night before from New York and he works as the stylist for some of the biggest stars in the world. I had told him how nervous I was and he said to me, “They should be nervous of you.”
So, with my ancestors behind me, I marched to the Majestic hotel armed with my questions.
I was nervous for nothing. Everyone was lovely. Lily is a true Indigenous woman, strong with a beautiful aura emanating from her. She is someone Indian Country should be very proud of, I’m proud to know her. DiCaprio is very personable and kind, he was sincere in his answers and obviously had a close bond with Lily. I could sit and talk to De Niro all day. He cares about the same social justice issues we Natives do and can speak intelligently about them. I really wanted to visit with him longer, but alas, I only had 30 minutes with them.
When Plemons, Means and Belleau came in, I felt like I was visiting with old friends. Plemons visited our camp in Grayhorse during the Grayhorse Inlonshka dances during filming. My brother Bates had a chance meeting with him at the Indian Relay Races in Pawhuska and they befriended one another. I can’t say enough about Jesse Plemons, he is just truly a good person and extremely friendly and genuine guy. Means is the same, I loved what he had to say in our interview, about the art of filmmaking and Natives and cinema. Belleau was also a pleasure, and he gave me some good story ideas on how to address men’s mental health.
Interviewing Tantoo has always been a dream. I’ve loved her acting since “Dances with Wolves.” Plus, her dress on the red carpet was the clear winner for me, hand painted by Taos artist Patricia Michaels. Cara and JaNae really immersed themselves in the Osage community during filming. Interviewing them really was reuniting with old friends. They were both wonderful in the film, as was Jillian. All four actresses blew me away with their performances, I’m proud to know them.
Yancey and Talee, whom I already know because we’re Osage and our families are longtime friends. They talked about the atmosphere on set and what it was like to prepare for their roles. We talked about Osage religion and culture, and their Osage fathers who were brothers. What a special experience this must have been for their two families to be in this film and to travel to France for the premiere together.
I’ll have more about these interviews in upcoming stories from the Osage News. The interviews are so fantastic that I may just publish them as Q&As, so everyone can enjoy them as I did.
May 22, day six – Scorsese
I think it’s every entertainment journalist’s dream to have a solo interview with the great Martin Scorsese. Let me geek out here really quick. “The Age of Innocence,” with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis, played on loop in my house growing up. When I hear the soundtrack, I think of my mother. She was always trying to replicate the beauty shown in that film in our house, in all things really.
In college, I wrote one of my term papers about “Goodfellas,” with De Niro, Joe Pesci and the late Ray Liotta. Man, I loved Liotta’s laugh. I must have seen that film over 100 times, easy. Another of Scorsese’s films that was always on loop, was “Casino,” with Sharon Stone and De Niro. The first time De Niro sees Stone in the film and falls in love with her, it is the best scene in film that replicates the feeling of “love at first sight.” It’s exactly how I felt when I saw my husband for the first time.
I was literally shaking sitting in the hallway outside of the room I was to interview Scorsese. I thought, “Please, just don’t let me waste his time.” It was his last interview for the day which of course worried the crap out of me.
The interview went well. We laughed, we agreed, we had a real conversation, I enjoyed myself immensely.
Now, it was time to write. My husband went swimming with Dante and his family in the bay and I found a place to get comfortable and focus on writing my review of the film. In the press areas at Cannes, there are anywhere from 50-100 journalists in each room, all vying for position and desk space, and all with their game faces on. The energy in the room is palpable. I found my corner, put on my game face and began writing my first professional film review.
I could have written for hours about what I saw on screen, but there was a part of me that wanted our Osage people to see it for themselves. I took great care to say just enough, but not too much about the film. I don’t like reading reviews that tell me everything, I like to discover and watch the film for myself, so I kept this in mind.
It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of it all, but I told myself early on that my review was for the Osage people.
After I posted my review my husband picked up some pizza and we began packing. It was already over and we needed to head home, back to our children, back to our Osage way of life.
For more coverage of the Cannes Film Festival, follow the Osage News on social media or visit our website at osagenews.org.
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