Themes: Political Unrest, Race Relations, Heads of State
Main Cast: Rupert Pate, Evamarii Johnson, Larry Peterson, Charles Frank
Release Year: 2003
Country: US
Run Time: 89 minutes
Plot
American history is turned on its head in this bitterly satirical mockumentary from writer and director Kevin Willmott. Taking the form of a BBC documentary about slavery in America, C.S.A. traces the history of the Confederate States of America, beginning in 1863 as the Southern States turned the tide in the War of Northern Aggression when, with the help of British and French troops, they won a decisive victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. Two years later, Ulysses S. Grant surrendered to Robert E. Lee as the Confederacy emerged victorious against the United States of America. As Abraham Lincoln and many other supporters of the Abolitionist cause fled to Canada, the Northern States were gradually absorbed into the Confederacy, and the right to own slaves became the uncontested law of the land. Over the course of the next 150 years, the Confederate States of America grew to become the most powerful nation on Earth, and persevered through wars in Spain and Latin America that expanded Confederate territories, and stood tall against Japan thanks to an alliance with German leader Adolf Hitler. In the present day, the Confederate States of America remain a power to be reckoned with, despite foreign pressures to eliminate the slavery programs that are the economic backbone of the country, a long simmering "cold war" with Canada, and the ongoing conflict against the Muslim Menace. Featuring staged interviews with "noted historians," mock newsreel footage, and inside-out versions of present-day news and entertainment programming, C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America received an enthusiastic reception in its screenings at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
