Amanda Capper - Cabeza de Vaca

I honestly thought this movie was a rollercoaster from start to finish. It takes so many surprising turns that you never expect the movie would take. In the beginning, I thought de Vaca would stay enslaved to the Natives forever until he died. How little I was wrong! I thought it was really interesting and also kind of heartwarming in a way to see how he slowly becomes willing to his role. I don't condone slavery at all, but I only thought it was heartwarming, because de Vaca and the shaman become friends and allies :) 

The fact that this is inspired by a real man makes the movie that more significant and shocking! I think the movie did a great job of showing how there really is not a "one size fits all" for religion. I am in love with the idea of syncretism, because it means that religion is not a box! Anyone can practice any religion in any way they want, even if it is deemed not the standard way by the rest of society or members of that religion. 

One question I had was - Was de Vaca only traveling along with the Natives because of the healing and shamanistic practices themselves, or because he also believed in the Indigenous religion of the Native Americans he befriended? 

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