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By John Davis
CSA: The Confederate States of
America
, adopts the format of a BBC documentary, which takes a look at the history of an
America
in which the South won the Civil War. The film mixes old movie segments, government films, television commercials, news breaks, and current news stock footage to weave a story that is disturbing and humorous at the same time. The film is presented as though it were a controversial British documentary being aired in
America
for the first time.
The Kevin Wilmot film, presented by Spike Lee, begins with the British and French forces siding with the Confederacy to overthrow the North at
Gettysburg
. The South is victorious, and the
Union
is dissolved, paving the way for the formation of the new country, the CSA.
President Lincoln attempt to flee to
Canada
, disguised as a black man, and is captured in an event that became a silent news reel of the day. After the war, President Davis returns the Northern states to slavery by offering tax rebates to homes and families who will buy and own them. In the current day, a popular cable television channel, the Slave Shopping Network continues the practice.
The CSA becomes an expansionist country, conquering all of Latin, Central, and
South America
. In the early 1940’s,
America
takes not only a passive stance with Hitler, aligning itself with the German Third Reich, but also is the aggressor in a surprise December 7, 1941 attack on
Japan
.
In the 1960’s, President Kennedy is assassinated soon after election, by political forces that believe that he will support emancipation and the right of women to vote. A growing terrorist movement from blacks located in
Canada
begins sweeping through the CSA, resulting in a cold war between the two countries.
Recent and or well known news footage is modified to show the Confederate flag in place of the “Stars and Stripes” as the CSA places the first man on the moon, occupies Iwo Jima, and so on.
What is disturbing about this mockumentary, is that it weaves this alternate history in with real history in a way that makes the viewer wonder if this could have happened. Or if it would have, had the South won the war.
Most Americans, particularly those from the South, will probably find the film leaving them with a bit of a queasy feeling. But it does make the viewer think, and it is entertaining. Those are qualities that are not easy to find in a film.
Rating 4.5/5
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