MovieChat Forums > Meek's Cutoff (2011) Discussion > NITPICKS (spoilers)

NITPICKS (spoilers)

posted 14 years ago by drywall2-1
7 replies | jump to latest

GREAT FILM

I saw it last night at TIFF.

1
I find it ludicrous that there was only one barrel of water. With that many animals they would need a lot more than that.

2
I guess I have to buy that they simply forgot to take that one precious barrel off the wagon as they lowered the wagon down the treacherous hill

Interesting tidbit from the Q&A:

Reichardt said the Indian tribe that taught the actor the language ( I can't remember the name of it) refused to give him the "death prayer" to say when that guy collapsed. So the actor said the death prayer in a different language (Crowe, I think?)...

[–] vsdobbs 14 years ago

I thought they had one barrel *left*. Do they not mention that the trip was supposed to be just a couple days but it turned into weeks?

[–] SCmovieprof 13 years ago

Remember, water weighs 8 lbs per gallon. A 40 gallon cask would weigh (not counting the oaken barrel) well over 300 lbs. The trip was NEVER meant to be a "couple of days." The main problem with this movie--if they do do this (I have not seen it yet) is that it is portrayed as only 3 wagons! If that is true, that is a horrible gaffe on many levels. The Meeks Train was 200 wagons.... 3 wagons lost on the desert is a personal tragedy for a few folks back in the midwest....an entire 200-wagon train at risk....THAT is something else....

[–] oOgiandujaOo_and_Eddy_Merckx 14 years ago

you saw one barrel, that doesn't mean it was the only one.

[–] ezrafan02 13 years ago

Each wagon had at least one barrel. That's why the other settler's shared their barrels w/ Michelle Williams once their wagon tanked.

Also, since each wagon had a barrel, they were gonna have to lower them down at some point anyway. Yes, a little more planning and they could have found a better way, but it makes more sense to keep each barrel in its wagon, instead of losing all three in one fell swoop. If one wipes out (like it did), at least they'd have the other ones.

One word could have solved this entire problem though: CAMELBAK

[–] nyjack 13 years ago

Final credits said the language was Nez Pierce.

[–] idgreenwood 13 years ago

How would the livestock have been fed? Would they graze off the land?

I tend to agree with your second point. The donkey could have shipped the barrels, one by one if necessary.

[–] SCmovieprof 13 years ago

Yes. They often brought oats and some other supplemental feed, but that would have been long gone. They might have gotten some at Fort Boise or Fort Nez Perce, but maybe not. The Oxen and horses would graze grass, that's why campsites were at a premium.