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Dark Winds: '70s Navajo Noir on Netflix
16 Jul
Summary
- The series is set in the early 1970s Navajo Nation.
- It explores themes of forced sterilization and assimilation.
- The show uses historical events like the 1971 moon landing.
The AMC series "Dark Winds," recently added to Netflix and renewed for a fifth season, immerses audiences in the early 1970s American Southwest. Based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels, the show centers on Navajo Tribal Police detectives navigating compelling cases.
While the books span several decades, the series maintains a condensed timeline, primarily focusing on 1972. This allows for a deeper exploration of the characters' lives within that specific era. Storylines are authentically grounded in Indigenous history, addressing significant issues like the forced sterilization of Native American women.
The show anchors its 1970s setting with real historical moments, including the 1971 Apollo 15 moon landing, which characters observe. Filmed at the first Native American-owned film studio, Camel Rock Studios in Santa Fe, New Mexico, "Dark Winds" captures the authentic atmosphere of the period, eschewing modern technology for period-accurate visuals.
"Dark Winds" continues to explore themes that resonate today by examining contemporary issues through its characters' experiences. Season 4 drew from Hillerman's "The Ghostway" (1984), and season 5 is expected to continue this trend, potentially delving into the murder of Sheriff Gordo Sena, as concluded in the previous season.
