"Insightful period piece"
In the 1940s on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana,
Louise White Elk finds herself pulled in opposite
directions. She knows that Baptiste Yellow Knife is
considered the local bad guy and she has known that since
he blew some weird white powder into her face when she was
nine. Still she finds the lure from the excitement that
Baptiste generates by dancing to his own drum hard to
resist. Like a moth to the light she is drawn to Baptiste
though her brains screams not go down that path because she
has experienced his abusive selfishness. On the other hand married police officer Charlie Kicking
Woman also struggles with the pull of two worlds as he
tries to enforce the law. Though married, he desires
Louise, but does his best to hide his feelings for the
enigmatic woman. Hanging over this potential triangle is
the impact of Harvey Stoner who owns everything and is
willing to use his material advantage to "buy" what he
covets, but will that include murder? PERMA RED is an insightful period piece that works at its
best when Charlie, Baptiste, and Louise stand on center
stage and either interact or fail to relate. Whenever
Harvey or Charlie's wife enters the engaging story
line's "sacred" triangle, they seem to disjoint the plot as
intruders. Still, Debra Magpie Earling paints a discerning
portrait of 1940s life on a reservation starring three
strong key characters. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted February 21, 2002
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