Assignment

Synopsis:

This epic war drama is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Charles Frazer. This film recounts the hardships endured by the peoples of Cold Mountain, North Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. These trials and tribulations are largely attributed to absence of the many of the men of Cold Mountain who rushed to join the Confederate army.

This film specifically centers on the efforts of one couple, Ada, a preacher's daughter and W.P. Inman, a carpenter who have both vowed to wait for each other through thick and thin. While Inman endures the ravages of the Civil War and eventually deserts the Confederate army, his betrowed struggles to hold onto her family's farm. Their tale is a not only a love story, but also a tale of a crumbling confederacy, endured hardships for many Southerners from all walks of life and the bonds that kept families together.

Questions:

What compelled Inman to join the Confederacy?

How does the Battle of the Crater come to symbolize modern warfare and the depths to which each side was willing to wage endless carnage against each other?

How is "total war" depicted in this film?

Discuss the Home Guard in North Carolina and its corrupt ways.

Discuss the ways in which women are depicted in this film. Be sure to include how they are charged to wage war on the home front.