I wandered the isles of my local video store feeling like I've seen everything and slightly bored and then this DVD box caught my eye. What a delight of a movie--it's 1/2 typical Hollywood laugh material if not somewhat a mix of British community theater type humor--but then that other half!!! Very unusual situations and the characters are so rich. My favorite quote is from a vegetarian cook forced into service cooking meat dishes. He says to a hungry young couple as they order dinner: " After the animal is drained of life it is marinated in a rich herb sauce then cooked in our special ovens". Priceless, just priceless-- if you could see Graham Green deliver this line, I rolled onto the floor and immediately called a friend to say "Get this movie".

The moments, as I was settling in my seat at a local cinematic arts venue that screens mostly low-budget indie films, were gentle and I still had a lot of hope for Christmas in the Clouds. I had talked to my mom earlier that afternoon and told her I was on my way to see the film, which she'd already seen at a previous screening months before, during the annual NMAI Native Cinema Showcase held every year in Santa Fe, New Mexico during Indian Market. I hadn't had much interest in the film then. Naturally, there was not the buzz currently surrounding the film at that time. I opted to see 5th World, by Blackhorse Lowe instead.At first glance, "Clouds. . ." seemed "harmless enough". After settling in my seat, and after being introduced to the line-up of half-characters, engaged seemingly by their own affectedness, and not much else, my vague and creeping dis-ease slowly turned to manifestations, gestures, and certain facial expressions of consternation, horror and dismay at what I can only come close to describing as an American Indian circus on-screen. Too many clowns, all of them sad.The film is a farce. Devastatingly obvious in its gimmicks. The writing is bad, the cast is halfhearted, though pretty to look at, and those "reputable Indian actors and actresses" in the film could not save this film from the dredges of its own cultural, political, cinematic misery if they died trying. The most dangerous thing about this film: one cannot hope to take a poorly written, poorly manipulated offering (cinematic or literary) and throw it in an Indian setting and then offer it up. This film is being lauded as THE Indian film with the most "crossover potential", the film that's supposedly geared to hit the non-Indian market with some kind of force that previous films with almost all-native casts just did not possess. Disgusting. The film is not only a misrepresentation of Indian people and Indian culture, it is a parody of a parody, of a parody. Parodies of this nature, are misaligned, misguided and so bent on "parodying for the sake of parodying" and making certain parodies of themselves, that they somehow, come all the way back around to not parody the film itself, or even its subject, but to parody the very form, and all elements at work--cultural, political, and most sacred to Indian people-- the spiritual, and the sacredness of STORY. The "Indian parody" (especially one produced by a white filmmaker) is not justified nor is the public prepared for it. When an entire culture, abused and marred by history, has never been truly and thoroughly evaluated on its own terms and perceived by these terms-- it is thoroughly impossible and deplorable to parody the culture. The jokes fall flat. The people portraying the culture end up making a joke of the culture, and the cinematic art form itself. They end up making a joke of their audience, and themselves. Oprah has lauded this movie. And, now I'll never give Oprah as much credit ever again. On the slim chance that the makers of Christmas in the Clouds will ever come to read this review: thank you for making this movie. Every Indian, and perhaps every human too, with a vested interest in true and thorough cultural/political evaluation and dialogue should see this movie and do what they can to intellectually, critically, consciously and openly rip it apart for the contrived cinematic drivel and cultural degradation that it is.

I saw this film in an almost-completed version a couple of years ago at the Palm Springs Native American Film Festival. The audience loved it. A lot of people have been waiting with crossed fingers hoping it would find a distributor for a big nationwide release.It's fresh like the mountain air of it's setting. It's laugh out loud funny and somehow manages to be heart warming without being schmaltzy. The cast of newcomers and old favorites like Graham Greene and Rita Coolidge deliver fine performances in every role. Couldn't have come at a better time. We can celebrate this delightful holiday surprise for the whole family together at the movies!

Saw this film at a screening in L.A. in early February 2002. The story is delightful, there are characters that appeal to all ages and the location is beautiful. Don't know if it has been rated, but believe it would receive a solid G rating (unless scenes of playful alcohol use would garner a PG rating) so maybe G movies are not thought to be profitable. Whatever the reason it has not been released to a wider audience, someone is missing the boat. This film would kick butt in the family film market. It's the kind of movie that families are seeking throughout the year - a funny (and sweet) story about mistaken identities and romance, with subplots woven through involving meddling but well-meaning friends. A healing between father and son, and father and daughter, and a happy ending all around is of course always desirable with a family film - and this one delivers with a rousing punch line. If it were playing somewhere I'd be sending my family members to see it as it would be on my "not to be missed" list for 2002.