The Indian Runner is a 1991 drama film written and directed by Sean Penn. It is based on Bruce Springsteen's song, "Highway Patrolman".

Plot

The story involves two very different brothers, some time during the 1960s. One, Joe (played by David Morse) is a small town police officer, and the other, Frank (played by Viggo Mortensen), is an outlaw with violent tendencies, returning from service in Vietnam and trying to work his way back into society.

Before the events of the film, Joe had tried to farm for a living, but was unable to make ends meet, and the bank eventually foreclosed on his property. He became a police officer as a way to support his young wife and child, and is a conscientious, upstanding, productive member of society. However, Joe has his own demons to fight with. The opening shot of the film shows a car chase which ends with Joe using his gun to kill a man in self-defense. This results in Joe's conflicted feelings about killing the criminal, as well as the praise and scorn from members of his community from this shooting. Frank, who had been involved with run-ins with the law before going to Vietnam, is described by his father as having "restlessness." Upon his return to town, he breaks into his brother's home and is nearly shot by Joe's wife. The next day, Frank leaves town without ever stopping by his parents' home. As Joe states in the narration, Frank was correct in his assessment that his parents would understand, as they seem to have an understanding of Frank's ways.

Joe does not hear from his brother for some time, but eventually discovers that he is in jail in another state from their father, who had kept the information quiet to avoid upsetting the brothers' mother. In jail, Frank demonstrates his outgoing personality, along with his continued tendency toward violence. Upon release, Frank returns to his hometown, settles down and finds a job, but is unable to reconcile his wandering, angry violent nature with this lifestyle.

The film explores the inner and outer conflicts the two brothers face as adulthood and the resulting responsibilities come to bear upon them.

Critic Roger Ebert has noted how the two brothers in this film represent not only the two sides of manhood in society, but also, possibly, the two sides of Sean Penn's own character.

Production

Producer Don Phillips gave Sean Penn's screenplay to two producers who liked it but felt that the ending was not commercial enough to interest a Hollywood studio. Time passed and a friend of Phillips and fellow producer, Thom Mount had his own production company and was a big fan of Penn's work. Mount thought that they might interest a studio if they could get a movie star like Tom Cruise interested starring in Penn's film. Penn spotted Viggo Mortensen in a film called Fresh Horses and was drawn to the actor's "angularity, a severity to his handsomeness", that he thought would be perfect for the role of Frank.

Penn and Phillips sent Mortensen the script while he was making Young Guns II in Tucson, Arizona and flew there to meet with him. The actor agreed to star in Penn's film. Penn had David Morse and Mortensen rehearse their pivotal scene in a bar for two weeks. The director had a bar set up in a gymnasium which allowed the actors to blow off steam by shooting baskets in between rehearsals. While making the film, Penn felt that Mortensen's "inherent kindness" was too visible and had him work with a member of the Hell's Angels motorcycle club that the director knew in order to acquire an edginess that Penn felt necessary for the character.

The Indian Runner is the last film to feature Sandy Dennis before her untimely death.

References