THE SEARCHERS

(1956) dir. John Ford; 119min.

FRIDAY, June 3rd at 7 & 9:30pm

SATURDAY, June 4th at 7 & 9:30pm

SUNDAY, June 5th at 3pm

New York Magazine once called The Searchers the most influential film in American history, and although its aesthetic greatness is clear, the possible questions contained in the heart of its themes are rife with ambiguity. This is the tale of a man obsessed, a man torn between love and hate, wisdom and hubris. Is this a film that asks for forgiveness, and criticizes the overt racism of John Wayne’s character, Ethan Edwards, or does it actually endorse those sentiments? The lens through which we view this film today may be much different than the audiences' in 1956, and it can be a challenge to find Ford’s real message here—according to him he never had one, he ”just made movies.”  As for the story, it entails a man on the hunt for the Comanche Indians that kidnapped his niece, and the quest that ensues to find her. Arguably one of Wayne’s best acting performances, and Ford’s best films, The Searchers explores the psyche of a nation that couldn’t quite come to terms with its past, and the way that past became reconciled. The Friday, June 3rd 7pm screening will be preceded by an introduction from PSU Film Professor, and Westerns expert, Mark Berrettini.