CS Weekly Archive > Weekend Read > 03/03/06

History is Written by the Victor

By Danny munso

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America
(documentary)

Kevin Willmott (also directed)

What if the South had won the Civil War? What could be an interesting essay question or debate in American History class is turned into a brilliant mockumentary that follows the repercussions of a fictional Confederate victory at Gettysburg, all the way into present day in the vastly different, and newly christened, Confederate States of America. While the subject may seem a tad thin to hoist an entire film upon, writer/director Kevin Willmott (who actually is a professor) takes it to hilarious, and often poignant, heights. Where Willmott could have easily paraded an endless line of stereotypes and clichés in front of his camera, he refrains, and actually provides solid evidence and explanations for why things could have turned out this way. While the film never loses its sharp sense of humor (a spoof D.W. Griffith film is particularly great), it succeeds because of its serious look at how things may have turned out and makes you thankful that this is, in fact, only fiction.


C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America
IFC Films
Not rated; 85 min.

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Danny Munso graduated from film school in 2004 and can currently be found on his computer working on one of his many half-written screenplays. Or, more likely, he's on the Internet checking the scores of his beloved Bay Area sports teams.

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