Watch Skins

In the film Skins, Eric Schweig stars as Rudy Yellow Lodge, a Native American police officer from the fictional Oglala Sioux reservation in South Dakota. Rudy is an alcoholic with a troubled past and a strained relationship with his older brother, Mogie Yellow Lodge (Graham Greene), who is also an alcoholic and a medicine man. The movie opens with Rudy responding to a call that there has been a suicide on the reservation. When he arrives at the scene, he discovers that it is his own estranged father who has taken his own life. This sets off a chain of events that forces Rudy to confront his demons and reconcile with his brother.

Rudy is haunted by the memory of a girl he accidentally killed while driving under the influence. Her ghost appears to him throughout the movie and serves as a reminder of his past mistakes. Rudy's drinking also causes him to have violent outbursts, which land him in trouble with the law and strain his relationship with his girlfriend, Annie (Heather Rae).

Meanwhile, Mogie has his own problems to deal with. He is being pressured by a shady businessman, Jimmy Looks Twice (Gary Farmer), to help him smuggle alcohol onto the reservation. Mogie is torn between his desire for money to support his family and his moral code, which forbids him from getting involved in illegal activities.

As the movie progresses, Rudy and Mogie's paths intersect more and more. They are forced to confront their past traumas and work together to overcome them. Along the way, they receive guidance from various spiritual figures, including a ghostly guidance counselor (Wes Studi) and a wise old woman (Tantoo Cardinal).

One of the strengths of Skins is its authentic portrayal of life on a contemporary Native American reservation. The movie was filmed on location in South Dakota, and many of the actors are Native American themselves. The filmmakers also consulted with a local Lakota tribe to ensure that the depiction of their culture was accurate.

Another strength of the movie is its use of magical realism. The ghostly apparitions and supernatural visions that Rudy and Mogie experience add a layer of spirituality and mysticism to the story. This is a common motif in Native American storytelling, and it helps to create a unique and compelling atmosphere.

Overall, Skins is a powerful and poignant drama about two brothers struggling to come to terms with their past and find their place in the world. The movie tackles themes such as addiction, family dynamics, cultural identity, and the impact of colonialism on Native American communities. It does so with sensitivity and nuance, making it a must-see for anyone interested in Native American history and culture.

Skins is a 2002 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 57.