Having watched this controversial film, I can say I enjoyed it because American history does interest me. The film itself depicts the paranoid state of mind of Mormons and some bad timing for the emigrants from Arkansas passing through Utah territory, ironically on September 11, 1857.
The film itself does a good job with presenting the period piece with costumes, props and location... where it fails is the spoken dialog and monologues. Perfectly horrible was the language. The love story is an interesting twist in the story, fictional and entertaining. Also the feelings of trepidation, hate and fear in the film seems disturbingly accurate and true.. As with any religion or institution that tries to place theological control over a large number of people often seem to harbor fear and trepidation of losing that power.
The massacre scene seems to be word for word as depicted from the last words of John D. Lee, a person who participated in the act and was put to death by firing squad for it in 1877 after confessing his part in the massacre and explaining the state of mind of the people around him at the time.
What caught me was that this film was not tightly wrapped. It tried to set up the story and the events that lead to the tragic events, but loosely fictional enough to tick off some Mormons obviously.
Historically, yes the account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre seems pretty accurate, it does mention the Federal Government was going to be sending troops and that Brigham Young was ready to fight. But the way it was said and done to get these small set up events introduced... it seemed a little (not a lot) leaned against Mormons in the film. A fair and an unbiased recollection of history or historical events isn't what you will find but maybe, the story from a sensible relative of one of the massacred.
The film does try to show some human side of the Mormons that were involved, through the love story and the character they portray as John D. Lee, especially at the end of the movie. It pretty much wraps up with him looking like he is regretting doing something (this is during the massacre).
Also the film does very quickly attempt to show the history of ill will the Mormons had received and what led to their paranoid and resolute state of mind via montage of the violent mobs that often attacked the Mormons and then assassinated Joseph Smith in Missouri, forcing them out of the state.
The film does bring a controversial piece of American history to light and let's the viewer really decide for themselves. But in the end it seems to question the leadership (or lack of) in the Mormon church, who was at the time Brigham Young and the local bishop (John Voigt)in the film.
**I would highly recommend watching the 2004 documentary: BURYING THE PAST: LEGACY OF THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE**
and reading the Mormon church's September 2007 addressing the events, in Mormon run Deseret News. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695209108,00.html
The film itself does a good job with presenting the period piece with costumes, props and location... where it fails is the spoken dialog and monologues. Perfectly horrible was the language. The love story is an interesting twist in the story, fictional and entertaining. Also the feelings of trepidation, hate and fear in the film seems disturbingly accurate and true.. As with any religion or institution that tries to place theological control over a large number of people often seem to harbor fear and trepidation of losing that power.
The massacre scene seems to be word for word as depicted from the last words of John D. Lee, a person who participated in the act and was put to death by firing squad for it in 1877 after confessing his part in the massacre and explaining the state of mind of the people around him at the time.
What caught me was that this film was not tightly wrapped. It tried to set up the story and the events that lead to the tragic events, but loosely fictional enough to tick off some Mormons obviously.
Historically, yes the account of the Mountain Meadows Massacre seems pretty accurate, it does mention the Federal Government was going to be sending troops and that Brigham Young was ready to fight. But the way it was said and done to get these small set up events introduced... it seemed a little (not a lot) leaned against Mormons in the film. A fair and an unbiased recollection of history or historical events isn't what you will find but maybe, the story from a sensible relative of one of the massacred.
The film does try to show some human side of the Mormons that were involved, through the love story and the character they portray as John D. Lee, especially at the end of the movie. It pretty much wraps up with him looking like he is regretting doing something (this is during the massacre).
Also the film does very quickly attempt to show the history of ill will the Mormons had received and what led to their paranoid and resolute state of mind via montage of the violent mobs that often attacked the Mormons and then assassinated Joseph Smith in Missouri, forcing them out of the state.
The film does bring a controversial piece of American history to light and let's the viewer really decide for themselves. But in the end it seems to question the leadership (or lack of) in the Mormon church, who was at the time Brigham Young and the local bishop (John Voigt)in the film.
**I would highly recommend watching the 2004 documentary: BURYING THE PAST: LEGACY OF THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE**
and reading the Mormon church's September 2007 addressing the events, in Mormon run Deseret News. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695209108,00.html