Thunderheart is truly mind absorbing film based on factual events taken place in the 1970's on the Oglala Sioux Reservation. The main character Ray Levoi played by Val Kilmer is a quarter Sioux Indian sent to the badlands by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to solve a murder that took place on the reservation. Furthermore, power struggles within the Sioux are taken place at the same time. In Thunderheart, Ray Levoi changes his former social identity of being a F.B.I. Agent to his cultural identity of being part Sioux Indian. During the course of the film Ray Levoi's life transitions these three cultural aspects. One, his identity, two his personal development; and three communication within his cultural development.
             Ray Levoi's identity in the first scene of the film was seen as hectic. He was driving through busy traffic in the city of Washington D.C. in his convertible car listening to the news conforming to his surroundings. The first scene showed the viewer of what Ray's life was before being sent on a assignment to the reservation. Furthermore, when Ray arrived at the airport there was silence. No busy traffic. No people. The next day Ray saw the Sioux reservation in South Dakota. On the reservation third world country like conditions were in image; broken down cars, run down facilities, and scattered garbage. Ray's life shifted the moment he stepped on the reservation. Ray never wanted to be seen as a part of the Sioux ethnic identity after seeing the first glimpse of these conditions. After seeing for the reservation for the first time he appeared ashamed to be half Sioux.
             During the course of the film Ray is haunted by flashbacks of his biological father a Sioux Indian who is an alcoholic. Ray's familial identity was constantly haunted by his fathers image. His connection with his father made Rays true ethnic identity shadowed within him.
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