Hiawatha, the Messiah of the Ojibway facts for kids

Hiawatha, the Messiah of the Ojibway was an early short film made in 1903. It was filmed in Canada, specifically in Desbarats, Ontario. The movie was directed by Joe Rosenthal, an American who was an important early filmmaker. The story for the film came from a famous poem called The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. What made this film special was that it starred Ojibway First Nations people.

Experts say Hiawatha was the very first dramatic story film ever made in Canada. This means it was the first movie filmed there that told a complete story.

About the Hiawatha Film

What is the Film About?

The film Hiawatha, the Messiah of the Ojibway was based on a well-known poem. This poem, The Song of Hiawatha, was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The movie brought parts of this famous story to life on screen.

The film's full title also included The Passion Play of America. This suggests it was meant to be a very important and serious story. It was like watching a play, but filmed outdoors in real nature.

Who Made the Film?

The director of Hiawatha was Joe Rosenthal. He was an American filmmaker who helped create many early movies. He was known for being a "pioneering cinematographer." This means he was one of the first people to use cameras to make films.

The movie was filmed in Desbarats, Ontario, a place in Canada. The actors in the film were Ojibway First Nations people. This was important because it showed their culture and stories.

Why Was it Special?

Most films in 1903 were very short, usually only about three minutes long. But Hiawatha was much longer, running for 15 minutes. This made it quite a long movie for its time.

It was also special because it was the first "dramatic narrative film" made in Canada. This means it was the first movie filmed in Canada that told a full story with actors.

Is the Film Still Around?

Sadly, Hiawatha, the Messiah of the Ojibway is considered a lost film. This means that no known copies of the film exist today. It is a piece of film history that has disappeared over time.