What Does a Revisionist Mean in Film?

Various genres of film, like the Western, are widely known to have different sub genres or sub categories within them. For example, the sub genre Revisionist Western, is one you may not have ever heard of. But it represents part of the Anti-Western or Post-Western sub genre of film which subverts what would be expected from the standard format or film genre, Western. But, what does a revisionist mean in film, exactly?

Revisionist Western Sub Genre

The Revisionist Western sub genre of film is a counter to the traditional Western genre which subverts standard Western film storylines, plot, and theme such that any number of alterations may be noticed.

For example

Whereas the typical Western focuses on a storyline which plots the good guys against the bad guys, a revisionist film or revisionist western will often have criminals acting as the protagonist or hero.

In fact, many Revisionist Westerns would feature an antihero or sympathetic villain, the complete opposite of what would be expected from a traditional Western. 

Revisionist Westerns blur the lines between good and bad, right vs. wrong, moral vs. immoral. In stark contrast to the traditional Western classic, the Revisionist Western film avoided the clear and defined lines of what was ethical and morally right.

It paints a picture of a moral grey area in which people must adapt in order to survive. 

Revisionism 

So what does a revisionist mean in film? When the term revisionist is used in conjunction with western. Such as the revisionist western. The term reflects a sub genre of the Western that is effectively the opposite of traditional western film.

But which has similar setting and many similar features. Likewise, the term revisionism might be of use when addressing works of fiction. And in doing so, a very different meaning comes to light. 

A revisionism represents the retelling of a conventional storyline or narrative with significant variations from the original fiction work such that the storyteller or filmmaker deliberately revised the view of the original work. 

In this case, revisionism represents the deliberate altering of or revision of an original storyline and revisionism becomes the basis for the revisionist western which revises traditional western storylines with direct intent to alter the outcome.

Revisionist Films from the Past

Many examples of literature and film works have resulted from revisionism or the deliberate altering of a storyline, plot or its characters in order to deliver a different outcome.

Revisionist Westerns, such as Dances with Wolves directly alter the portrayal of Native Americans, showing them sympathetically rather than as the savages that American Indians were portrayed as in the traditional Western film genre.

A few additional examples of the revisionist western in cinema include:

• Buffalo Bill

• The Magnificent Seven

• Lonely are the Brave

• Butch and Sundance: The Early Days

• Dances with Wolves

• Unforgiven

• Posse
• Geronimo: An American Legend

In Summary

So, what does a revisinoist mean in film? It means to directly revise or alter in a way. So as to change the outcome, characters, or plot of a film.

The Revisionist Western represents one of the most profound sub genres. Ones that directly revise original Western film culture, resulting in a number of films.

Most notably Dances with Wolves. In which the original ideals of a traditional Western is revised. And what would be expected of the outcome is completely different from the original.