On Sacred Ground

This film carefully and respectfully explains the issues surrounding the construction of an oil pipeline across Sioux Tribal Lands. The characters are acted in such manner to be worthy of our attention to their individual viewpoints and life circumstances. There is more than a documentary here because the moral struggle of persons deciding for themselves what to believe and how to act is always compelling. This is no black and white depiction of good guys or bad guys in this film since everyone intends good things to result from the pipeline. But good is a relative concept, depending upon one's priorities, as is well illustrated by this film with its excellent and diverse cast members.

Supposedly a "drama", but it is nothing more than a cheaply produced television movie, which somehow is being "upped" to becoming a feature movie, which it simply is not.

The bad: you'll recognize the look and feel of a cheaply made television movie:

1 Lots of mediocre B-actors, acting below par

2 Cheap looking technical details (run of the mill photography and sound)

3 A total lack of a coherent storyline that engages me

4 Annoying from start till finish

I could go on and on about this supposedly "drama", but it simply isnt anything near dramatic. It's a mess.

Too bad, this movie turned out to be a complete dud, because this subject of oil exploration and it's enviromental and societal effects do deserve a better movie.

Josh and Rebecca Tickell's On Sacred Ground is an emotionally charged story that beautifully captures one reporter's experience while investigating the Dakota Access Pipeline and its surrounding conflict. The film highlights the brave men and women from Indigenous communities who protested to protect their land and water. The main character Dan Mckinney, played by William Mapother, brought a compelling perspective to the already multifaceted story. As a veteran suffering from PTSD, Dan experienced flashbacks throughout the film that gave the audience greater insight into his past. This unique perspective anchored the character and allowed greater light to shine on the 2,000 veterans supporting the Native protesters. Societal treatment of veterans and Native rights are two themes that are intrinsically bound in On Sacred Ground. This film tells a compelling story about the struggles Native communities are facing and the lengths gone to discredit their mission.

I will just agree with most of the positive reviews of this movie, but I wanted to set one fact straight.

When they show scenes of the "authorities" spraying water on the protesters, it was actually about -40F at the time. The water would have literally frozen in mid air as it hit the protestors. And when it did hit them it would have been instant hypothermia.

And if you think that the US isn't a police state, you are wrong.

These protestors would brutalized. I hope that the perpetrators got the maximum sentence allowed.

I will just agree with most of the positive reviews of this movie, but I wanted to set one fact straight.

When they show scenes of the "authorities" spraying water on the protesters, it was actually about -40F at the time. The water would have literally frozen in mid air as it hit the protestors. And when it did hit them it would have been instant hypothermia.

And if you think that the US isn't a police state, you are wrong.

These protestors would brutalized. I hope that the perpetrators got the maximum sentence allowed.

The motion picture, On Sacred Ground, was executed with excellence. Directors Rebecca and Josh Tickell did a wonderful job portraying the narrative of the continuation of the Dakota Access Pipeline over the Lakota "Sioux" Tribe's land. On Sacred Ground included voices from true Native Americans, which showed their respect for those whose story was being written. By representing the indigenous women in such a way that showed audiences how they were vocal and strong and not instigating and violent was a great way that this motion picture gave respect to the Lakota Tribe. This cinematic masterpiece has many powerful layers, including the display of PTSD suffered by veterans, the ethical dilemma of a journalist, and the life of a married couple with a baby on the way. Despite all these conflicts, the awareness for protecting indigenous rights does not take a back seat. This motion picture has a voice of its own and I highly recommend watching On Sacred Ground for a moving cinematic experience.