Editor's Note: In discussing this movie, certain terms that can be considered racially offensive are used in reference to parts of the film. Please note that they are only being used in terms of the review and do not reflect the views of anyone associated with DVD Snapshot.
Official Synopsis:
What would happen now if the South had won the Civil War? Told through the lens of a faux British documentary, CSA: The Confederate States Of America provides a bracing and provocative look at a very different America that might have been. Using fabricated movie segments, old government information films, television commercials and actual stock footage from our own history, CSA: The Confederate States Of America is: "The first great American film of the year! It's like Jean-Luc Godard directing a screenplay by Dave Chappelle." - Matt Zoller Seitz, New York Press
Our Take:
C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America is one of those movies that is a perfect example of what good satire is all about. And not satire in the Scary Movie sense, either; this is a film with a message, that delivers it through a sharply-written and cleverly-devised means.
It's also absolutely brilliant.
C.S.A. isn't just a faux-documentary about what would happen if the South had won the Civil War (or the Northern War of Aggression, as it's called in the film), it's presented as a documentary airing on television. As such, it comes complete with a preemptive warning about the subject matter (being that it's a foreign documentary produced by the BBC), as well as news breaks and commercials. These false advertisements (based on actual products that once existed, such as Sambo Axle Grease or Darkie Toothpaste), are letter-perfect. They are often downright hysterical (and, of course, terrifying at the same time), but they each have a different flavor that captures the style of different types of commercials (infomercials, public service announcements, etc.) to brilliant effect. I can't tell you how jaw-dropping it was to see an insurance commercial that talks about protecting people's property... and then panning over to a black slave worker. It's absolutely fascinating.
If the film has one flaw, it's that it's a bit slow in the beginning, from the Civil War to the turn of the century. Once it gets into the 20th century, and we begin to see how the historical change might have affected the events that have shaped our generations' lives, it's absolutely captivating. Seeing America befriend Hitler and fight a cold war against abolitionist Canada (with doctored footage from real life historical events) is both horrifying and compelling.
The DVD comes with a few extra features that expand on the material presented in the film.
* Commentaries - Director Kevin Wilmott gives a solo commentary talking in a somewhat historical perspective, and is joined by producer Rick Cowan to talk more about the making of the film.
* Deleted Scenes (14 minutes) - Eleven scenes that were cut from the film.
* C.S.A. With The Filmmakers (11 minutes) - An interview featurette with the filmmakers.
I imagine there are some people that could take offense at the numerous racial epithets in C.S.A., but I think those people are missing the point. C.S.A. has an important message to deliver, and anyone who misses the point has to be missing something themselves. Do not let one of the most unique and memorable films to come along in a very long time pass you by.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Overall Picture:
Movie: A
DVD: B
- Mike Spring
Editor
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