Martin Scorsese recently provided some insights into why the film “Killers of the Flower Moon” decided to focus on the character of Ernest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. This decision has been met with criticism from the Indigenous community, who believe that the story should have focused more on the character Mollie Burkhart and other Osage people impacted by the murders.
The film, released on Apple TV+, tells the true story of the 1920s murders of Osage Nation members after oil was discovered on their land in Oklahoma. While it has been praised by critics, there has been pushback from the Indigenous community regarding the portrayal of the characters and the overall focus of the story.
During a virtual press event, Scorsese was joined by stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro, and Jesse Plemons. The group addressed some of the criticism raised by members of the Indigenous community, although they did not directly respond to a question about the backlash during the event.
Scorsese explained how the film originally centered around the character of Tom White, played by DiCaprio, but they eventually decided to focus on Ernest Burkhart instead. The director noted that this decision stemmed from learning more about the complicity and complexity of the events, as well as getting to know the Osage people in Oklahoma. Scorsese mentioned that Margie Burkhart, the great-granddaughter of Mollie and Ernest, shared insights that ultimately influenced the direction of the story.
DiCaprio added that the film is based on hard evidence and a sense of community among the Osage people, and it aims to shed light on a tragic event that has not been openly discussed for many years. Lily Gladstone emphasized the importance of having Osage individuals involved in the production, providing guidance and ensuring the cultural elements were portrayed authentically.
The criticism of the film began at its Los Angeles premiere when an Osage language consultant, Christopher Cote, expressed mixed feelings about the story’s focus. Cote noted that he hoped the story would be told from the perspective of Mollie, but recognized the challenges of portraying that perspective without being Osage. He also mentioned concerns about the portrayal of Ernest Burkhart in the film.
Following the film’s release, Devery Jacobs, a star of “Reservation Dogs,” criticized the portrayal of Native people and the focus on the killings in the film. She expressed concerns that the movie did not honor or dignify the Native people depicted and that it normalized violence against Indigenous communities.
Despite the criticism, the film has been recognized with the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, a distinction honoring the collective work of the film’s cast and director. Scorsese, DiCaprio, and Lily Gladstone will be presented with the award at the festival.
In summary, Martin Scorsese, along with the cast of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” addressed the criticism that has emerged from the Indigenous community regarding the film’s focus on the character of Ernest Burkhart. The decision to center the story around Ernest was influenced by a desire to explore the complexities of the events and to shed light on a tragic chapter in history. Despite the pushback, the film has been recognized for its collective work with the Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
