A groundbreaking film about Native Americans has made its South Devon debut, ahead of screenings in both London and Los Angeles.

Neither Wolf Nor Dog was shown for a second time this week at Totnes Cinema, returning by popular demand.

Its self-funded distributor is now looking for independent cinemas in Teignbridge to screen the film.

Scottish filmmaker Steven Lewis Simpson overturned conventional wisdom in making, marketing and distributing his movie. He chose to bypass traditional film distributors and self-fund distribution directly to cinemas. So far the film has screened in more than 200 cinemas across the US and 50 in the UK.

The ultra-low budget road movie was shot on location in a Native American reservation in just 18 days.

It features the late Dave Bald Eagle as the central Lakota elder Dan. Dave acted in films with Errol Flynn and Marilyn Monroe, and whose grandfather fought General Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.

Based on the acclaimed 1995 novel by Kent Nerburn, the funny and deeply moving film is set in the heart of contemporary Native American life in the sparse lands of the Dakotas. It beautifully weaves in Dan’s talks to uptight white American writer Kent, played by Christopher Sweeney, while taking in spectacular scenery along the way.

Dan recounts American history from the native point of view, covering environmental and social issues that Kent begins to view in a totally new light.

The story culminates at the Wounded Knee mass grave, the site of the notorious massacre of hundreds of Lakota people, mainly women, children and elderly, by the US cavalry in 1890.

Dave Bald Eagle had relatives at the infamous massacre and improvised the film’s emotional climax at Wounded Knee.

The Mid-Devon Advertiser spoke to filmmaker Steven when he was in Los Angeles ahead of the film’s release over there.

He said: ‘Neither Wolf Nor Dog has been released in Devon now and sold out in Totnes on its first night, before its release in both LA and London. There’s definitely an appreciative audience in the UK for this film and we’ve sold out in many cinemas.

‘A lot of Americans have a blind spot when it comes to Indian issues – either through propaganda or guilt – and even today preconceptions are ridiculous. UK and European audiences, on the other hand, are far more receptive to the issues.

‘This film puts the audience centre stage, they’re literally standing with Dave. The movie has gone straight back to the source, we took it back to the Indian elder.

‘It really touches the audience. It’s such a wonderful and rare experience – I spent eight years on it and don’t think of it as my film – it’s Dave’s film.

‘At the Wounded Knee Massacre grave Dave improvised the whole scene. At the end of filming the dialogue he said “I’ve been holding that in for 95 years”.

‘It was beyond moving and I could never imagine filming anything more important in my career than Dave recounting the Wounded Knee Massacre.’

Steven has a unique insight into the Lakota peoples, with many friends at Pine Ridge Reservation. He’s probably the most established non-Native American person making Native American films today.

For information on the film’s distribution email [email protected] or call 020 8123 6044.