The chemistry between the two cops is a little paternalistic

Rating: 6/10 (17 January 2020)

Taylor Sheridan likes to combine the Western genre with actual social engagement. In "Hell or high water" (2016, David Mackenzie), for which he wrote the scenario, the film is situated in Texas and its theme is the banking crises of 2008. "Wind river" (for which he wrote the scenario AND was the director) is situated in Wyoming and its theme is the difficult position of native Americans.
Through the films of John Ford we identify Westerns with locations such as Monument valley. Personally I do like Westerns situated in the North of the United States very much. Think of films such as "McCabe & Mrs Miller" (1971, Robert Altman) and "The revenant" (2015, Alejandro Inarritu). "Wind river" is one of those films, and the landscape is really beautiful. Good work of cinematographer Ben Richardson, who also shot "Beasts of the Southern wild" (2012, Benh Zeitlin).
The theme of the difficult possition of native Americans is illustrated by the case of the rape and murder of a young girl. The sheriff of the indian territory can only act as both the victim and the offender are native Americans. Against offenders from outside the territory he is powerless and needs the assistence of the FBI. Because of this a lot of crimes against native Americans remain unresolved.
In "Wind river" the assistence of the FBI comes in the form of an inexperienced female agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen). Her cooperation with the experienced local guy Cory Lambert (jeremy Renner) is the weak point of the movie. In many detective movies the tension between the experienced (local) cop and the inexperienced (but often better educated) cop from outside is one of the driving forces. During the movie not only the crime is solved but there also grows a mutual understanding and appreciation (for example "In the heat of the night" (1967, Norman Jewison) and "Mississippi burning" (1988, Alan Parker)). In "Wind river" Jane Banner proves that she is brave, but she never really contributes to the solution of the crime. Combined with the fact that Jane is a woman, the film tends to a kind of paternalism.
I already mentioned "McCabe & Mrs Miller" (1971, Robert Altman). Only after seeing "Wind river" one can value the utility of a brothel in such a lonely town in the North.