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at have been neglected by Western civilization, and with the violent and lethal consequences

They're actions are a bit overstated, the lack of immunity from 'old' world disease played a bigger role in the decimation (estimates range in the hundreds thousands) of the native American population than the supposed technological superiority of the sword. After all we're talking about a few hundred men not an army of thousands. A motley crew that had to rely heavily on other native 'tribes' that were open to revolting to overthrow the rulers of the day. In a sense it was reminiscent of a civil war that was instigated by invading foreigners.

It doesn't surprise me that this version of events has reached mythical proportions given human nature's tendency to be self serving (eurocentricity, the belief that 'white's are inherently superior) and the fact that Iberia had just recently freed itself from almost 1000 years of Muslim conquest. No wonder they eagerly anointed themselves as 'conquerors', something that probably helped assuage their psyche.

The history of Latin America and the North America are very different. In Latin American the natives played a key part from the outset of the arrival of Europeans, resulting in a newly formed bi-racial group that eventually came to prominence over the indigenous cultures. Which explains why people with native American ancestry are common there and in some countries the majority. Personally I think there's traces of racism to completely erase the complexity and contributions that native Americans have made since European colonization. It paints them as mere primitive savage beings that were inevitably overwhelmed which is huge simplification of events.

That is in stark contrast to North America where Europeans formed colonies with little contact and reliance with the native population. Colonies who were mostly European in ancestry that gradually took over lands, which led to native Americans eventually becoming a tiny minority.

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The film relied heavily on the myth of the "Noble Savage" living "in Harmony with the Nature". All that stuff really has only a dubious connection with reality.

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"Emerald Forest" is the amazonic classic and is still brillant, "Cabeza de vaca" is the most similar taking place in the not yet conquered Mexico, "Even the rain" shows a lot about the past in the contempory Bolivia, "Maïna" is 100% indian in the north, "Aluna" has a message from columbian indians, "Little big man" is still the classic for the north, "A man called horse" is similar in the north, "Avatar" is the most metaphoric and "The new world" was about the first meeting...

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Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1422032/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Not as good as Embrace of the Serpent, but still a very good movie.

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