American actress Lily Gladstone stated that the film "Killers of the Flower Moon," directed by Martin Scorsese, revolves around stories of the murders of Native Americans in Oklahoma during the 1920s. She pointed out that the Osage tribe, who are central to the film's events, welcomed it despite the painful nature of the story. Gladstone said in an interview with Reuters, "The film is a celebration of the portrayal of Native Americans, but it also presents events that can be impactful and painful for viewers." She added, "I listened to the women of the Osage tribe, and their strength lay in their ability to watch the film together and comment on it afterward. They expressed their happiness with it and that the story has come to light."
The film, distributed by Apple TV+, began showing in theaters on October 20. It is based on a book of the same name by David Grann and tells the story of the Osage tribe's murders for the sake of seizing their oil rights that made them wealthy. The film also depicts the story of a white man, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his Osage wife, portrayed by Lily Gladstone. The white man, who faces pressure from his uncle played by Robert De Niro, becomes involved in the conspiracy to murder despite his love for his wife and children. DiCaprio mentioned that the film focuses in some way on "a very complex yet sincere love story." He added, "These events actually happened."
Director Scorsese primarily focused on the FBI detectives who worked on this case. Although Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans has often been flawed, DiCaprio stated that the film aims to show the truth, and Scorsese employed people from the Osage both in front of and behind the camera.
