Last of the Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans

Michael Mann represented the historical events leading up to, during and after the French and Indian War in his film "Last of the Mohicans" in a lot of ways. I was very impressed with how accurately he depicted how people were dressed and their characters personalities. For example, it struck me how proper, clean and uniformed the red coats of the British and the blue coats of the French were, and in how in contrast the Indians were so simply dressed. What also caught my eye was the hopelessness shown in the militia and how people were just caught in the middle and how this was demonstrated in their dress as well. For example, the British telling the militia, who were basically a bunch of farmers that they had to prove their loyalty to England without question. The French and the British seemed so sure of their decisions, almost blind faith. This simple yet important detail demonstrated how war affects people and cultures on such a personal basis. The decisions of a few can affect many. Magwa makes references in the film over and over to that the fact that "white hairs" seeds don't go on. This was very important to him. In his mind, he felt that if he ended that one man's seeds, it would some how bring him justice for the injustice that previous battles had caused him personally.

I also found Mann's portrayal of the Fort William Henry massacre and how the French