Red Westerns vs. Easterns
East European western films fell into one of two categories: Red Westerns (or Borchst Westerns) that were in set in the American wild west, and Easterns (or Osterns) that were typically set on the Asian steppes but followed the style of American western movies. Red Westerns were generally produced in Czechoslovakia or the GDR, whereas Easterns were almost exclusively made in the Soviet Union and told stories of the history of the USSR. Red Westerns often presented the working people and Native Americans in a positive light.
The Sons of Great Bear
The Sons of Great Bear (German: Die Söhne der großen Bärin) is a 1966 DEFA movie released in East Germany but filmed primarily in Yugoslavia. It was adapted from a German novel series by Liselotte Welskopf-Henrich and directed by Josef Mach. Welskopf-Henrich’s books were chosen as the basis for DEFA’s first western in part because she did intensive research on Native American culture. The movie’s main character, Tokei Ihto, was played by Yugoslav actor Gojko Mitić, who played a lot of Native American roles throughout his career and was made an honorary member of the Sioux, a rare honor. |
Themes
World War II and the Wild West
For many in the GDR, the story of The Sons of Great Bear and other Red Westerns resonated with them because of the perceived parallels between the oppression of Native Americans at the hands of the white colonizers and the persecution of Jewish people under Nazi Germany. Tokei Ihto’s narrative of fighting against relocation and genocide mirrors the GDR’s anti-fascist narrative that was so built into the national identity during state socialism.
Capitalism
During a time when the United States was seen as the enemy to Eastern Europe, movies depicting the U.S. as the villains make total sense. In The Sons of Great Bear, not only are the antagonists American, they also embody capitalist greed. The U.S. government’s motivation for expanding further into Native American territory is their desire for gold. Red Fox goes as far as to kill an old friend (Tokei Ihto’s father) while on his quest to find the gold mine. By comparison, the settling of the bear tribe at the end of the movie is representative of the state’s ideology promoting a new order of collective farming, as Tokei Ihto declares the tribe will "raise tame buffalo, forge iron, and make ploughs."
For many in the GDR, the story of The Sons of Great Bear and other Red Westerns resonated with them because of the perceived parallels between the oppression of Native Americans at the hands of the white colonizers and the persecution of Jewish people under Nazi Germany. Tokei Ihto’s narrative of fighting against relocation and genocide mirrors the GDR’s anti-fascist narrative that was so built into the national identity during state socialism.
Capitalism
During a time when the United States was seen as the enemy to Eastern Europe, movies depicting the U.S. as the villains make total sense. In The Sons of Great Bear, not only are the antagonists American, they also embody capitalist greed. The U.S. government’s motivation for expanding further into Native American territory is their desire for gold. Red Fox goes as far as to kill an old friend (Tokei Ihto’s father) while on his quest to find the gold mine. By comparison, the settling of the bear tribe at the end of the movie is representative of the state’s ideology promoting a new order of collective farming, as Tokei Ihto declares the tribe will "raise tame buffalo, forge iron, and make ploughs."
The Sons of Great Bear can purchased on Amazon or viewed online. Kenyon students can also watch the movie on Kanopy Streaming.
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