Neither Wolf nor Dog, the film, entry four: Dave Bald Eagle inhabits Dan

Let’s get something out of the way at the outset: Dave Bald Eagle, who plays Dan in Steven Simpson’s upcoming film of Neither Wolf nor Dog, is 95 years old.

That, in itself, is amazing.

But that is not what is amazing about his performance. What is truly amazing is how Dave inhabits Dan, and Dan inhabits him.

In a way that is hard to explain, he and Dan become one. It is something the likes of which I have never seen before. You hear people say that Jamie Foxx is Ray Charles in Ray, or that Meryl Streep is Julia Childs in Julie and Julia.  And, truly, their portrayals are jaw-dropping.  But there is always a gossamer distance between the portrayer and the portrayed. The actor gives a bravura performance that leaves you feeling you have been in the presence of the person portrayed, but, somewhere, in a far corner of your consciousness, you know that it was a performance by an actor and that they will go back to being themselves when the performance is over.  Part of that has to do with our familiarity with the stars outside their roles, but part of it has to do with something subtle and irreducible about the separate nature of our individual selves.

But by some miracle of cultural and personal chemistry, this was not the case with Dave and Dan. The distance between them is the distance between fraternal twins, and no more. Dave could be Dan; Dan could be Dave.

How to articulate this?

Here, perhaps, is where the 95 years of life comes into play. Dave and Dan grow out of the same childhood of speaking Lakota and living the old ways. Their minds, their way of thinking, are based in a Lakota way of framing, languaging, and understanding the world. They have seen the same things, lived the same experiences, thought the same thoughts, watched the same changing of the world and passing of the ways. Something that I had to use all my skills of creative empathy and observation to even approach in my writing, Dave  inhabited and animated as naturally as if it were a story about about him and his life. He brought Dan alive, and, in some impossible-to-articulate way, Dan infused life into Dave.

We pay lip service to the notion of the elder and the wisdom and insight that life experience gives. But then when someone is announced to be a 95 year old actor, we suddenly forget the wisdom and insight and focus on the age: “How could he play that role at 95?” Well, it is probably more to the point to say that the reason he could play that role is because he is 95. The wisdom and insight of the elder inhabited him, and he, in turn, allowed it to inhabit Dan.

But let’s not forget the acting itself. If you want to see a masterful job of pacing, an astonishing use of silence, and sheer genius in the slow, unfolding of emotions, Dave’s performance is something to behold. His timing is impeccable. He carries humor in his pauses and is able to effortlessly pull the emotion from a scene without overplaying or enlarging the character or actions. You wait for what it is he is going to say, and he makes you lean forward to hear it.

Chris, as Kent, swirls around in search of understanding – a maelstrom of confused emotions. Rich, investing Grover with the strength of a contained resolve, forms a wary and vigilant perimeter around the old man and the culture.  But, at the heart, like the pearl of great price, stands Dave’s Dan — the pure, unassailable truth of Lakota culture, embodied  in all its humor and pathos and insight in a man who is, for all intents, inseparable from the character.

If an almost unknown 95 year old Lakota actor in a low budget independent film could win an Oscar for Best Actor, Dave would win it hands down. But Oscars are star turns and rewards within the club. Dave is not in the club, just as Lakota reality is not in the club we call America.

But after you see this film, you just might think we’ve got it backwards. As a Shoshone elder once said of European Americans, “Though your people don’t know it yet, you have come  here to learn from us.”

Dave, in the role of Dan, is the embodiment of that learning.  Watching him is a lesson not only in Lakota values and culture, it is a lesson in humanity.  In his portrayal he gives a gift to the Lakota people, to all the elders who have had to remain silent for so long, and to all of us who seek a better, and gentler, way to live on this American earth.

I only hope this film makes its way to the eyes of the American public.  If it does, Dave’s portrayal of Dan guarantees that it will make its way into American hearts.  And that is where it truly belongs.

13 thoughts on “Neither Wolf nor Dog, the film, entry four: Dave Bald Eagle inhabits Dan”

  1. I am so touched by this Mr. Nerburn, I can’t wait to see this film! Thank you for using your gifts as author and teacher to bring this story to all of us!

  2. Well put as usual !! I’m just so impatient to see this film ! These pictures on the background are so great !!

  3. So beautifully written, this touches my heart much the same way the photos of Dave Bald Eagle have. I know part of Steven’s anxiety to get the filming done had to do with his understanding that Dave Bald Eagle could be Dan as no other actor could. How extraordinary that they found each other.

  4. I too hope this film makes it to the public eye. I am so looking forward to seeing it myself. I adore the quote you used above from the Shoshone elder. The words were like an arrow straight to the heart. I have always found your work to be such an honest and real portrayal of our humanness and what lies at the core of each of us. It has always spoken to what is meaningful along this journey here & carries the ability to crack open the heart. Thank you

  5. Dang,you’re a good writer…still.
    Where’s the premier? Any distribution arranged or will we all have to buy the DVD?

  6. I’m as out of the loop as you are, Zan. Go to Steven Simpson’s facebook page for the film, Neither Wolf nor Dog Movie. That’s where the latest info can be found. It’s where I go when I want to know something. Other than that, I’m just one more fellow traveler wandering in the dark.

  7. I wish I could know Dave Bald Eagle the way that you do. I’m grateful once this movie comes out, to get to know him as Dan. There’s a part of me that feels I already know him. You can see his knowledge, experience and humor in his eyes. What an incredible soul!

  8. Laura Williams

    I’m so anxious to see the movie. I’ve read all the books and Dan is the type of man I would love to have had for a grandfather. So much wisdom and so humble. Dave Bald Eagle seems to be that same man. He’s someone I would be honored to shake hands with in this world. Thank you Kent Nerburn for the gift of your books.

  9. Lea Nall-Williams

    Thank you to Dave Bald Eagle for letting the Spirit guide his path and playing the role of Dan! I hope to be able to view this movie with my 98 year old Cherokee great Aunt Lora. She has been helping me to write down our families heritage, which is difficult as I am not a writer and the stories were told and I would prefer to tell as well!

    Thank you so much to all the cast and to Mr. Nerburn for the courage to tell a story and tell the truth! I have read all three books of this series and it has changed my life in ways that only can be explained like this it is a the Great Spirit who has guided all of you to the point where it will be a movie!

    Wado! Have a blessed day!

  10. Simpson said it was “miraculous” to get the amazing production value they have so far on screen for the “miniscule” amount of money they raised. This new campaign will accelerate the final production process as there will be more marketing and distribution issues to deal with later on. The main reason they want to get it out sooner than later is that lead actor, Dave Bald Eagle is 95 years old and they consider it crucial to have him see the film in its full glory.

  11. I have just finished the 3 books, neither wolf nor dog, the wolf at twilight, and the girl who sang to the Buffalo and I haven’t been so enthralled with a book for many years. It was so well written that you felt you were there. Thank you for the history and perspective of gives of our native brothers and sisters. I feel you have given a great gift to us all.

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