If you’re a fan of ‘Wild West’ films, the history of peoples originating from Africa, and the disruption of black history by the system of chattel slavery, Netflix’s ‘The Harder They Fall’ is definitely a film to add to your stream list.

Featuring megastar household names like Edris Elba and Regina King, the film, directed by Jeymes Samuel, officially released on November 3. The writers are adamant in their introduction credits that the movie is fictional. Fictional, yes, but based on real people.

The film centres black American pioneers who shaped the culture and history of the American west but who were also intentionally undermentioned in the grand narrative. When the story is told, we just cannot leave them out. And that’s what the movie reminds us.

Jonathan Majors, a rising star in black mainstream television, plays ‘Nat Love’. Love is a well-document American cowboy from the early 1900s whose life is positioned in the middle of the particular version of events, fictional or not, told by director Samuel.

Much of what we know about the real Nat Love comes from his 1907 autobiography: “The Life and Adventures of Nat Love”.
A glimpse of that autobiography kept in a special library at Duke University says Love was born an enslaved African-American in 1854 Tennessee, where he learned to train horses to be mounted by riders on his owner’s plantation.

After the 1862 Homestead Act was passed by the United States Congress which allowed all persons including women, immigrants and former enslaved peoples to claim land as part of the great American expansion, Love rode to the west and became a ranch hand in Kansas.

Love’s autobiography tells of hundred mile journeys, sparring with Mexicans and ‘Indians’, and befriending other cowboys all on the way.

Riding alongside Love in the film was ‘U.S. deputy marshal Bass Reeves’ effortlessly played by quintessential tough guy and celebrated, long-time actor, Delroy Lindo. Reeves, born in Arkansas in 1838, is reportedly the first African-American U.S. Deputy Marshal. The match between Lindo’s persona and Reeves’ character was apt!

Reeves, by most accounts, was an honest lawman in Indian Territory (what is now much of Oklahoma state) for three decades, racking up some 3,000 arrests under his belt. Other lawmen reportedly had sordid reputations of accepting bribes and themselves engaging in criminal acts but not Reeves. He was a man above it all.

Despite his legacy in law enforcement, Reeves was born into a group that never enjoyed an amicable, conducive relationship with neither the law nor its agents—enslaved African-Americans. Nonetheless, he battled the odds against him to reportedly become the longest serving deputy U.S. Marshal in Indian Territory, holding the post for some 32 years.

But back to the movie’s star-studded cast. An unsurprising public favourite and once top-pick for a black ‘James Bond’ reboot, Idris Elba played the role of the terrifyingly violent gang leader, ‘Rufus Buck’. Reports suggest Buck did not live to his 19th birthday, a consequence of his devilish outlaw lifestyle.

Riding alongside Buck was ‘Cherokee Bill’, portrayed in the film by Lakeith Stanfield. Evident from the recorded history, Bill’s reputation was known throughout. As a teenager, he spent most of his time riding in gangs that left havoc in their trail. He, like Buck, died by the proverbial sword he lived by.

I have my own top picks, however. Enter the bold, independent, firebrand, ‘Mary Field’ or ‘Stage Coach Mary’ played by Zazie Beetz, who might be most remembered as ‘Domino’ in the Marvel universe comedy, Deadpool. But this is more about Mary. It comes as no surprise that the history records her as a ‘tomboy’ and, most certainly, not a woman to be rumbled with. Sis was ‘strapped’.

Being the first of something is a common trend for the characters featured in this movie. Fields is no exception. She is reportedly the first known African-American woman to become a U.S. postal service star (contract) route mail carrier.

But there were some characters whose life stories were a bit more difficult to track down. RJ Cyler plays ‘Jim Beckwourth’. In his life, Beckwourth was a mountaineer and explorer.

Other characters were ‘Gertrude Smith’ or ‘Treacherous Trudy’ played immaculately by acclaimed actress, Regina King. King slipped a bit too neatly into the role of the eerily composed, bloodthirsty sharpshooter. But she ate. And we are not upset.

‘Bill Pickett’ was portrayed by Edi Gathegi. And yet another personal favourite of mine, ‘Cathay Williams’ or ‘Cuffey’ played by Danielle Deadwyler. I did say there were a few characters whose backstories were more difficult to dredge up than others.

If you haven’t watched the film as yet, be sure to catch it this weekend. It would make for a good movie night with friends and family. So, grab your popcorn and skittles and log on to Netflix.