Black Cloud
Black Cloud is a 2004 American drama film, which was directed, and written, by Rick Schroder, and starring Eddie Spears, Julia Jones, Russel Means, and Tim McGraw.
Black Cloud | |
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Directed by | Rick Schroder |
Produced by | Adam Batz Karen Beninati |
Written by | Rick Schroder |
Starring | Eddie Spears Julia Jones Russel Means Tim McGraw |
Music by | Chad Fischer John E. Nordstrom |
Cinematography | Steve Gainer |
Edited by | Geraud Brisson Ed Marx |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English Navajo |
Plot
Black Cloud (Eddie Spears), a young Navajo man, must take a journey of personal growth, to prepare himself for a chance at boxing in the Olympics.
When Eddie (Rick Schroder) returns to town with the rodeo, and wants to rekindle his relationship with Black Cloud's girlfriend, Sammi (Julia Jones), Black Cloud confronts him, and runs into trouble with the sheriff (Tim McGraw) after beating up Eddie, who is Sammi's ex boyfriend, and the father of her child, as well as the Sheriff's nephew.
After seeing Black Cloud in a boxing match, an Olympic Scout named Norm Olsen (Peter Greene) offers him a tryout for the team of the U.S. Olympics. Initially, Black Cloud rejects the offer, believing that it would be unjust to “fight for the White Man”. In trying to apply for Indian housing, he and Sammi find out that his great grandfather was from Germany; believing he is cursed by his diluted bloodline, Black Cloud has a falling out with Sammi.
He goes to see his grandfather, who takes him into the canyons, and tells him about his family, and the German man who helped his great grandmother, after she was raped by several white men, and went by the name White Wolf. Realizing that his bloodline is pure, he decides to come back to Sammi, and proposes to her.
He gets back into training, for the tournament of the Golden Gloves, which is coming up, and decides to take up the scout’s offer, if he wins. The day before the tournament, his best friend is seriously injured, in a fight with Eddie and a set of other cowboys, which the Sheriff refuses to arrest.
On the day of the tournament, Black Cloud goes through it to the finals, where he meets Rocket Ray Tracy (Pooch Hall), the number one ranked light heavyweight fighter, who is hoping to go pro after the tournament.
Release
The film was not picked up for wide release, but premiered at the Phoenix Film Festival in April 2004, and was seen at several small festivals, including the April 2005 Haskell Indian Nations Film Festival, in Kansas; it marked Schroder's directing debut.[1][2]
Accolades
The film won the “Best Director Award”, at the San Diego Film Festival, in October 2004.[3]
References
- "'Black Cloud' a knockout picture for audience and Chinle family". azdailysun.com. 9 April 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- "Haskell University packs 'Black Cloud' screening". indianz.com. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- "Award Winners". 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2019.