DISNEY’S POCAHONTAS MOVIE REVIEW

(This post cointains affiliate links) Sometimes a Disney movie is so full of inaccuracies that people are shocked that it becomes a classic, but something about the movie is endearing and years later it still remains a classic. But sometimes when children see things versus reading, they believe what they have seen. This makes teaching historical truths harder. But that is why it is important to make sure you are deliberate with teaching using the movie along with living books. Disney’s Pocahontas Movie Review will give you an outline of the movie, and then I will be comparing Disney’s Pocahontas to her real-life counterpart. At the end of the page, I also share a link to my free homeschooling curriculum.

Disney’s Pocahontas: Synopsis of the Movie

Walt Disney’s Pocahontas is a tale based on the real-life Native American princess, Pocahontas. The movie begins in 1607, with a ship (Susan Constant) sailing to the New World from England. Aboard the ship is Captain John Smith. The leader of the group is Governor Ratcliffe who is looking for gold. The crew knows they will encounter hardships in the new land, but they are excited and talk about gold and fighting Indians.

Meanwhile in the Powhatan tribe, the daughter of the Chief, Pocahontas, is to be married to a brave warrior, Kocoum. Pocahontas is a free spirit who runs with a pet raccoon named Meeko and a hummingbird called Flit. Her mother is dead, and she seeks advice from Grandmother Willow, a talking tree. Pocahontas talks about her dreams of a spinning arrow and is searching for her path in life.

The new arrivals build Jamestown settlement and begin the search for gold. Smith begins to explore the area and finds Pocahontas. As the pair begins to fall in love, Pocahontas believes he is the spinning arrow and her path is with him. Both disobey orders to stay away from each other, but they decide to work together to forge peaceful relations between the colonists and the Indian tribe.

While Kocoum watches, Pocahontas and Smith kiss. He becomes enraged and attacks Smith. Thomas (friend of Smith’s) kills Kocoum with a musket. Thomas escapes, but Smith is captured. Powhatan declares war on the settlers, and Smith is to be killed at sunrise. Thomas warns the crew of Smith’s capture. This is the opportunity that Ratcliffe has been waiting for and uses this as a reason to kill “the savages.”

When Powhatan brings Smith out to kill him, Pocahontas rushes forward and throws her body on top of his. She convinces her father that violence is not the answer. However, Ratcliffe continues with his plan to kill Powhatan. Smith jumps in front of Powhatan saving his life but is seriously injured in the process. Ratcliffe is arrested and sent back to England to be punished for his crimes, and Smith is also forced to return to England for medical treatment. Smith asks Pocahontas to return with him, but she stays with her tribe. The film’s ending shows Pocahontas on a cliff watching John Smith’s ship sailing away.

Disney’s Pocahontas: Differences Between the Real-life Pocahontas and the Movie

While there are similarities between the real Pocahontas and the movie, there are also many differences. The story and movie both are about a young Native American girl from the region we now call Virginia. John Smith and Governor Ratcliff were both real men who sailed from England and helped start a settlement in Jamestown.

In both the movie and the real-life story, Pocahontas is the daughter of an Indian chief. The film tries to portray the Native American customs in a way that children might understand. The Indians believed in animism – the belief that souls and spirits exist in animals, trees, rocks, and natural forces such as the wind. Disney used Grandmother Willow, Meeko, Flit, and the wind to portray these beliefs.

There are many differences between history and the Disney movie. Disney’s Pocahontas was approximately 18 years old, while the real Pocahontas was about 11 or 12 when she met John Smith. The story of Pocahontas being saved by an Indian princess may be true, but it might have also been just a ceremonial ritual that was not about “saving his life” at all. Since there were not just language barriers, but also cultural differences, it is difficult to find out what is absolute truth and what is speculation. In real life John Smith was injured and returned to England when a sack of gunpowder that he was carrying exploded and injured him.

DISNEY’S POCAHONTAS MOVIE REVIEW

Walt Disney’s Pocahontas was released on June 23, 1995, as a full-length animated musical movie. The rating on this movie is G. However, just like with Snow White, there are darker elements of this movie. The English settlers want to kill the “savages” (their name for the Native Americans), and the Indians want to kill the settlers. Kocoum is shot and killed. John Smith is almost beheaded, and he is shot when trying to save the Chief. There is a lot of talk about killing. Meanwhile, John Smith and Pocahontas fall in love and make out.

My Recommendation for viewing

While Pocahontas is considered a Disney classic, some young children may have problems with the nature of the film. My children were never bothered by this movie. Disney’s movie is an excellent introduction (along with historically accurate books and learning activities) to the history of the Native American in the United States.

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