In a No-man's land between North and South, you didn't fight for the Blue or the Gray... you fought for your friends and your family.
A very thoughtful character driven study of war, of the people drawn to it and its effect on young people in their formative years. The story evolves whilst following a mixed group of Southern Bushwackers as they hid out a winter after having spent their summer engaging the Northern Jayhawkers, in this guerrilla conflict. We find out little about their motives for joining the war, more about its effect on them as the drama unwinds. Historically this piece is far more accurate than many others, with epic confrontations, yet it is the character development that is the key and this slowly, almost organically comes to dominate the film. Helped by excellent performances from the group led by Tobey Maguire, Jewel and especially Jeffrey Wright (who plays the Southern Blackman who achieves self emancipation) this film has plenty to offer with preaching and offering obvious signposting when confronting issues of race and terrorism of the time. Highly recommended.
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play ake Roedel and Jack Bull Chiles are friends in Missouri when the Civil War starts. Women and Blacks have few rights. Jack Bull's dad is killed by Union soldiers, so the young men join the Bushwhackers, irregulars loyal to the South. One is a Black man, Daniel Holt, beholden to the man who bought his freedom. They skirmish then spend long hours hiding. Sue Lee, a young widow, brings them food. She and Jack Bull become lovers, and when he's grievously wounded, Jake escorts her south to a safe farm. The Bushwhackers, led by men set on revenge, make a raid into Kansas. At 19, Jake is ill at ease with war. As his friends die one after another, he must decide where honor lies.
Director Ang Lee and writer-producer James Schamus turn the spotlight on an often overlooked aspect of American history in this, their sixth film together. The outbreak of the civil war causes a rift in the Roedel family as young Jake (Tobey Maguire) goes against the wishes of his Unionist father and joins his friend Jack (Skeet Ulrich) in the Bushwhackers, a Confederate guerilla force. When winter comes, Jack and Jake take shelter with wealthy landowner Mr Evans, and Jake begins a romance with young war widow Sue Lee Shelley (Jewel). However, it is not long before the harsh realities of war once again intrude on their lives.
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