In Disney's take on this tale from early American history, Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) is a young girl bristling under the strong hand of her father. She loves nature and is friends with the animals and is determined not to be the bride of the warior that her father said she will marry. She meets John Smith (Mel Gibson) and continues to see him even though her father has stated she must not go near the invaders. The "savages" as the English Govenor Ratcliff (David Ogden Stiers) sees them must be hiding the gold he is convinced is there in the new land. John Smith and Pocahontas must do all they can to stop a war between the settlers and the indians. The story shows an interesting view of how cultures with no understanding see each other so poorly at first, but can learn to accept with time and an open heart.