At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, one of the most timely and impactful films was Free Leonard Peltier, a documentary directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France. The film tells the story of Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who spent nearly 50 years in prison for the murder of two federal agents, a crime he has always maintained he did not commit. Just days before the film’s premiere in Park City, Peltier received a profound reprieve: President Joe Biden granted him clemency in one of his final acts before leaving office. This news sent shockwaves through the filmmakers, who had to rush back to the editing room to incorporate this historic update into their documentary. As France recalled, the announcement came with just 14 minutes left in Biden’s presidency, seconds before Donald Trump’s inauguration had officially begun. “The speeches and songs were taking place,” France said, “and then the word came.” It was a moment of hope and vindication for Peltier and his supporters, who have spent decades fighting for his freedom.
Free Leonard Peltier is more than just a legal drama; it is a deeply personal and historical exploration of Peltier’s life and his role as a leading figure in the American Indian Movement (AIM). The film, which is currently screening in the international competition at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, seeks to educate a new generation about the injustices Peltier faced and the broader struggle for Indigenous rights in the United States. Variety’s Joe Leydon described the documentary as “persuasively well-researched and often infuriating,” noting its ability to deliver a “potent history lesson.” France, an Academy Award nominee known for his work on How to Survive a Plague, emphasized the importance of bringing Peltier’s story to younger audiences, many of whom may be unfamiliar with his case. While Peltier’s story has been told before—most notably in Michael Apted’s 1992 film Thunderheart and the documentary Incident at Oglala, narrated by Robert Redford—this new film offers a fresh and urgent perspective on his plight.
The events that led to Peltier’s imprisonment centered around a tragic shootout on June 26, 1975, at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. On that day, armed FBI agents entered the reservation, sparking a confrontation that resulted in the deaths of two FBI agents, Jack R. Coler and Ronald A. Williams, as well as a Native American activist named Joe Stuntz. Prosecutors argued that Peltier had shot the agents at point-blank range, but his supporters and attorneys have long maintained that he was framed by the government. They point to a deeply flawed trial, which France refers to as “a true tragedy and miscarriage of justice.” The film uses a combination of interviews, archival footage, and A.I.-generated reenactments to recreate the events of that day and challenge the official narrative. By situating Peltier’s case within the broader history of violence against Indigenous communities, the documentary shines a light on the systemic injustices that have shaped the lives of Native Americans for centuries.
One of the most haunting aspects of Peltier’s story is its connection to the dark history of Wounded Knee itself. In 1890, federal troops massacred some 300 Lakota men, women, and children near the same site where the shootout took place nearly a century later. Two years before Peltier’s arrest, the area had been the site of another major confrontation: in 1973, hundreds of Native American activists, led by AIM, seized Wounded Knee in a symbolic stand against government oppression. This 71-day occupation, which came to be known as “Liberation Day,” was an attempt to reclaim sovereignty and bring attention to the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities. For Short Bull, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and co-director of the film, Peltier’s activism was deeply personal. Growing up just 50 miles from Pine Ridge, Short Bull credits Peltier and his peers with helping him understand and appreciate his Lakota identity. “Leonard’s generation was the generation that started to understand what was lost through the period of assimilation,” Short Bull said. “They were pining to cling to what was still intact.”
Despite the progress that has been made in recent years to address the historical wrongs perpetrated against Indigenous peoples, the fight for justice is far from over. Short Bull acknowledges the strides that have been taken but emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by Native American communities. “There are still the fair share of challenges that are still quite prevalent,” he said. “And that’s the thing that frustrates me. I see other Leonards. Because we fight for the land, because we fight for our culture, there’s going to be other Leonards.” For the directors, Peltier’s story serves as a reminder of the resilience and sacrifice required to confront systemic inequality. His case is not just a relic of the past but a warning about the dangers of government overreach and the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, no matter the cost.
In February, Peltier was finally released from a federal prison in Central Florida after nearly five decades behind bars. Now 80 years old and in poor health, he will serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement in North Dakota. While his release marks a significant victory, his work is far from over. As Short Bull explained, Peltier’s spirit remains unbroken. “The power for change and safety and love for our community is still at the very forefront of his mind,” he said. “He’s still going, and he still wants to be active.” France echoed this sentiment, calling it “remarkable” that Peltier has retained his “warrior spirit” despite decades of hardship and deprivation. For Peltier, his freedom is not the end of the fight but a new chapter in a lifelong struggle for justice and equality. As his story continues to unfold, Free Leonard Peltier serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of Indigenous resistance and the unyielding commitment to a cause that transcends generations.
