Review of C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2005) by J D — 01 Jul 2008

For fans of Civil War history, history in general, or would just like to see a really original movie, it's simultaneously tongue-in-cheek and appalling. Reading through some of the apologists' reviews on various sites lamenting the portrayal of slaveowners, it's pretty clear that we've still got a ways to go to dispel the effective antebellum propaganda that the Civil War was about states' rights and not a state's right to own slaves (this phenomenon explained brilliantly in the book "Inhuman Bondage" and touched on in the movie in the discussion on how talk of the war focused not on the why of the war but the minute details of the actions of the soldiers in battles).

While it's not a revolutionary idea that American slavery was bad, it's still a pretty fascinating look at how different our world would be if the notion of white supremacy had made its way to its logical conclusion.

While some of it seems a bit over-the-top, especially the "commercial breaks", the filmmakers did a great job to remind us that advertisements for the "Coon Chicken Inn" were no mere parodies but actual products that were being sold right up 'til now (they mention Uncle Ben and Aunt Jemima as the least offending of the examples they provide).

The epilogue showing some of the historical facts the film centers around (such as the Confederates' plan to invade South America) is a sobering reminder that history's path can change in the briefest of moments.

A great thought-provoking movie.