NEW ORLEANS – Landmark Native American film “Neither Wolf nor Dog” is based on the award-winning novel by Kent Nerburn. The film features Dave Bald Eagle, who was 95-years-old during the time of filming. After Dave Bald Eagle’s passing last year, NPR’s team from “All Things Considered” debated whether he was “the world's most interesting man.”
Due to demand, the film is now opening on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Zeitgeist Art Center, 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., just in time for Native Heritage month.
Film distributors say it is unheard of for a small, self-distributed independent film that was shot with a crew of two people over 18 days to be competing with Hollywood blockbusters and often outperforming many as well.
Omotola Lajubutu with Inyo Entertainment, the distributor of “Neither Wolf nor Dog,” said in Washington the film appeared in 19 theaters including in Vancouver where the film outgrossed 11 of the 12 movies playing nearby at a multiplex while on a split schedule. It was one of two of the theatre's best performing films in an entire year, she said.
“Its success as it rolls out throughout the country is such that it is likely to be the most successful non-Hollywood U.S. Native American film since ‘Smoke Signals,’" said Lajubutu.
The movie is scheduled to be screened at more than 100 theaters so far and its Rottentomatoes.com score is 4.7/5.
“The film shows the beauty, tragedy, humor and power of Lakota Country,” said Lajubutu. “It became known as ‘the great unmade Native American novel’ in Hollywood as producers tried and failed to produce it for over 20 years. It is very much a David vs. Goliath story.”
