By: Joshua Finley
In a landscape often dominated by predictable Western tropes, the new film Buffalo Daze emerges as a true trailblazer. The film’s association with the cast of the popular series Yellowstone and its related Taylor Sheridan works—1883, 1923, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and Tulsa King—further heightens its anticipated impact. Central to the film’s narrative is the character of Sam Resurrection, portrayed by Yellowstone regular Mo Brings Plenty in what is a career-defining performance. Resurrection’s story begins with his miraculous revival after being presumed dead as a child, a moment that earned him his unique name. “This role was very important to me,” shares Brings Plenty.
As an adult, Resurrection played a crucial role in opposing the Allotment Act, which sought to dismantle his home, the Flathead Indian Reservation, to accommodate homesteaders. His dogged advocacy, including numerous letters to Presidents Roosevelt and Taft, highlights his significance in American history. “I was truly honored to portray Sam Resurrection and to show what he stood for and who he was. There could be a whole movie just about him!” Brings Plenty continues. “I embraced the role from our traditional perspective, which is grounded in spirituality.”
Brings Plenty praised the film’s director, Raen LeVell, for his approach to the project. “Raen gave me the freedom to become Sam. Not only that, but Raen created an atmosphere that allowed us, the actors, to be vulnerable enough to become the individuals we were portraying. A director needs to create space for actors to engage with the emotional and spiritual perspectives of their characters, and Raen does that, which shows in the performances throughout Buffalo Daze. I loved working with him.”
Buffalo Daze also taps into contemporary socio-political themes. A pivotal scene involving Resurrection, William Smead—the odious Indian Agent brilliantly played by Mark Anderako (Hell on Wheels)—and an immigrant boarding school teacher reflects ongoing debates about women’s rights in America today. In an industry beholden to formulas, Buffalo Daze defies standard categorization. It is that rare creative tapestry that succeeds in being fresh and unique while still evoking classic Western traditions—from the silent era of Tom Mix and William S. Hart to John Ford’s pantheon and contemporary quirks written largely by the Coen brothers.
The Coen brothers’ classic The Ballad of Buster Scruggs may represent the closest format to Buffalo Daze, though each chapter in this new episodic journey provides windows into the life and times of Jim Grinder, woven together by the West’s master artist, Charlie Russell. Jim Grinder was an Indigenous cowboy never seen on a wanted poster or the cover of a dime novel but who richly earned his place on both. With a penchant for vigilante justice and bronc riding, Grinder never denied his outlaw days with Butch and Sundance and proudly competed with Jackson Sundown for early rodeo bragging rights during the wildest of late frontier lives.
Mesmerizingly portrayed by Emmy and Tony winner Eric Nelsen (1883), Russell is both our guide and narrator in Buffalo Daze. Given his enduring influence, the movie aptly revolves around Charlie Russell more than Grinder. “The script of Buffalo Daze is like a compass pointing to the soul of the American West. Masterfully crafted, it isn’t just words on a page; it’s a map leading us through the untold stories of the land and the people, and the diversity of both,” says Eric Nelsen.
Emphasizing its bold and unique character, Buffalo Daze may have the distinction of being the only Western in movie history where a gun isn’t drawn and a shot isn’t fired. “I was recently talking to a colleague about Kevin Costner’s movie Open Range, and how Open Range had no gunfire until the end. We said how crazy that was, in a good way. Now we have Buffalo Daze with no gunfire at all! It’s unique, and I think it’s a very positive advancement to focus on the intricacies and emotions of some legendary lives instead of yet another shootout,” reflects Brings Plenty.
Rich historic and cultural detail more than compensates for the absence of bullets and body counts. Seven languages are spoken in Buffalo Daze, reflecting how diverse the West was, as opposed to how we’re told the West was won. “People always ask why they should watch a movie and what makes this movie different,” says Brings Plenty. “With Buffalo Daze, that is easy to answer: education. The education system has failed us as human beings. God had a dream for the human race, which is coexistence. Buffalo Daze is critically important as it brings viewers an understanding of this in a subtle, entertaining, and educational way.”
Buffalo Daze is represented by Giulia Prenna of Mind the GAP Productions.
Published by: Khy Talara
