A century and a half, post the war

It is said that the Civil War of 1861-1865 determined what kind of nation America would be. The war resolved two fundamental questions left unresolved by the revolution of 1776-1783 – whether the  United States will be a confederation of sovereign states or an indivisible nation with a sovereign national government. The Civil War started due to differences between the free and slave states. When Abraham Lincoln won the elections in 1860, as the first Republican president, he pledged to keep slavery out of the territories.

As a matter of written text, this history might sound boring. One must therefore not miss the upcoming ‘Civil War Film Festival’ which will showcase a set of films to mark the 150 years of American Civil War. An easy way to relearn the events that built the world’s number one super power!

Organised by American Center in collaboration with Cinedarbaar, the two-day film festival will have screenings of five films (docu-fiction) that narrate stories of the civil war.

A screening of the film
Glory starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Cary Elwe will kick-start the festival. It is about the US Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of both its own Union army and the Confederate. This film will be followed by Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis which shows America’s president struggling with the carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

The second day of the festival will have screening of films like Gettysburg by Ronald F Maxwell – which shares experiences of the war drama depicting one of the biggest events of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg. Also screened will be The Red Badge of Courage, a 1951 film that showcases the truncated adaptation of Stephen Crane’s novel about a Civil War Union soldier who struggles to find the courage to fight in the heat of battle.  The closing film of the festival is an epic war drama written and directed by Anthony Minghella called Cold Mountain.

It is a fact that the Civil War proved to be the costliest war ever fought on American soil and the territory of the South was devastated post it. The different films to be screened at the festival will help the audience understand the history from different perspectives of filmmaking. To add to this will be discussions on the history of the war, post the screenings, where themes highlighted in the films will be the topic of discourse.

Film buffs must also participate in the Quiz which will be based on the films, to win exciting prizes. But do remember to collect your free pass for entry, from the library, prior to the festival.

The screenings will take place at the Auditorium, American Center on June 5 and 6.
DHNS