The Confederate

Georgia, 1864. Desperate to escape an arranged marriage to her brutal neighbor, Willa Randall disguises herself as a boy and joins the confederate Cavalry.

**_“I am a rebel soldier …and far from my home”_** During the summer of 1864, Sherman’s troops are closing in on the heart of Dixie. In the woods many miles north of Atlanta, a nubile female is forced to leave her homestead and hooks up with a Confederate cavalry in the area. Based by the book “Perfect Disguise” by Lydia Hawke, “The Confederate” (2018) is a Civil War movie, but of the low-budget Indie variety similar to "War Flowers" (2012), "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" (2005) and "Dog Jack" (2010). As such, the production values are rudimentary with wooden acting and the service of Civil War reenactors. This is the least of the four with “War Flowers” and “The Last Confederate” being the best. The biggest problem is that it’s impossible to buy the protagonist (Heather Clark) as a male. The big-budget Western "The Ballad of Little Jo" (1993) had the same problem. "Just One of the Guys" (1985) was able to succeed with this challenge because Joyce Hyser looked stunning as a female, but also convincingly passed for a dude when made-up appropriately. So, to appreciate this flick, you have to imagine the protagonist looking more male than depicted. It's vital that a movie like this have human interest (otherwise it's a lost cause) and it scores pretty well in this area if you can roll with the very basic production values. I was able to acclimate to its limitations and enter into the world of the characters and enjoy it. The folk songs by Jennifer Gatch are a highlight, particularly the outstanding “I Am a Rebel Soldier (and Far From My Home).” If you like quality low-budget Civil War flicks, like "Pharaoh's Army" (1995) and "The Colt" (2005), and don't mind micro-budget Indies with the corresponding flaws, give it a try. The film runs 1 hour, 45 minutes, and was shot in the Augusta, Georgia, region, which includes nearby South Carolina. GRADE: C-