Windwalker (1980)

Trevor Howard is Windwalker, once a great Cheyenne warrior, now ill and about to die.

Before passing, he shares the story of his life with his grandsons, explaining how he wed a beautiful young Indian girl and had twin sons.

But tragedy struck in the form of an attack by two Crow warriors. Tashina, his wife, was killed. One of his two sons was kidnapped.

Years later, he located the boy in a Crow village. But his attempt to rescue him failed.

Windwalker passes after finishing his story. And the Crow attack again, badly wounding his son Smiling Wolf.

But then Windwalker realizes he isn’t dead after all. He climbs down from his burial post and returns home, helping his family prepare for a Crow attack he’s sure will come.

What he doesn’t know is that the small Crow warband includes his long lost son.

Trevor Howard as Windwalker, realizing he isn’t really dead in Windwalker (1980)

Trevor Howard as Windwalker, returning home to help his family defend itself in Windwalker (1980)

Review:

Some wonderful action scenes filmed in snowy Utah are the highlights of this otherwise slow-moving story of a Cheyenne family’s fight for survival.

With Smiling Wolf wounded, there’s just the aged Windwalker and two grandsons to fight off the band of Crow warriors.

But Windwalker teaches those grandsons not to fear death. And to use wisdom as much as strength to even the odds.

Englishman Trevor Howard plays the lead role, and his voice-over narration is done in English.

The rest of the film is in Native American languages with English subtitles.

Nick Ramus as Smiling Wolf at his father’s burial site in Windwalker (1980)

Nick Ramus as a Crow warrior, unknowingly stalking his long-lost family in Windwalker (1980)

Directed by:
Kieth Merrill

Cast:
Trevor Howard … Windwalker
Nick Ramus … Smiling Wolf / Crow Brother
James Remar … Windwalker as a young man
Srene Hedin … Tashina
Dustry McCrea … Dancing Moon
Silvana Gallardo … Little Feather
Emerson John … Spotted Deer
Jason Stevens … Horse That Follows
Roberta Deherrera … Happy Wind
Ivan Naranjo … Crooked Leg
Chief Tug Smith … Tashina’s father
Fedella SMith … Tasina’s mother

Runtime: 108 min.

James Remar as young Windwalker, courting Tashina by playing his flute in Windwalker (1980)

Srene Hedin as Tashina, accepting a union with young Windwalker in Windwalker (1980)

Memorable lines:

A Crow warrior, being warned of the fury of a Cheyenne squaw: “More pleasant to die under a Cheyenne woman’s blanket than under the hooves of a war horse.”

Windwalker to his grandsons: “Do not fear death. As spring begins with winter, so death begins with birth. It is only a step, in the great circle of life.”

Windwalker as he realizes he isn’t dead: “Grandfather, such a long life is not good for an old man.”

One of the women in Smiling Wolf’s family in Windwalker (1980)

The other woman in Smiling Wolf’s family in Windwalker (1980)