Gettysburg (1993)
Lieutenant General James Longstreet: I don't know. I sometimes feel
troubled. Those fellas - those boys in blue - they never quite seem the enemy.
Lieutenant General James Longstreet: I used to command some of those
boys. Swore an oath too. Ah... I - I couldn't fight against Georgia, South
Carolina. Not against my own family...
General Robert E. Lee: No Sir. There was always a higher duty to Virginia.
That was our first duty. There was never any question or doubt about that.
Superbly
acted with epic battle scenes and inspiring speeches, Gettysburg tells the
story of the defining battle of the American Civil War, a battle that took place
over three days in Pennsylvania.
The
story moves from the Union to the Confederate forces with ease and gives us a
clear view of the characters in an incredibly detailed way which is unusual in
films, especially those concerned with war. The subject of slavery is only
brought up once, and because of the storyline we find it impossible to see
either side in the role of “good” versus “bad”. That would too simplistic a way
to show the reality of the Civil War.
The
film does a great job of showing the tragedy of broken friendships and
conflicted loyalties at the heart of the Civil War. The central themes of the
film are twofold. Firstly, it shows the way that the Civil War ripped the
country apart, especially in the pre-war officer corps. All the generals know
each other intimately and grieve for friends that are now fighting against
them. Secondly, the film makes the point that for many, loyalty to their home
State trumped loyalty to their country and even to their friends.
All references come from IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107007/
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