Has there ever been an indigenous society which was NOT described by film-makersas "proud, independent people"

Answer 1

Yeah. Try all of them. They are either romanticized or depicted as savage. Either stereotype is damaging. Have you seen old westerns, Natives are depicted as savage. Even in the Pirates 2 or Apocolypto Natives are depicted as savage (these are current movies). There are equally as many romanticized depictions though such as Pocohantas.
None of these depictions are historically or culturally accurate.
This is the same for many Indigenous socities.

More culturally appropriate movies:
Rabbit Proof Fence (Australia Aboriginals)
Whale Rider (New Zealand Maoris)
Smoke Signals (North American Natives)