The film released a year ago in 2007, and is meant to be a Hollywood style representation of the Mountain Meadows Massacre of September 11, 1857 in Utah. (BTW, on the offside, what is it with September 11 and the history of the American nation?)
The historical accuracy Hollywood’s account of the massacre, allegedly undertaken under the instigation/inspiration of the Mormon church, is under debate. But, I thought that it was an interesting comment on the workings of religious intolerance.
All religions teach that God is good and that one must act in the spirit of that good God. So, how is that then that people pick up a sword and mow down unarmed women and new born infants in the name of God? How does brother kill brother? How does your mind and your soul stop protesting as your hands commit/you watch the most terrible atrocities being perpetrated?
The movie is a comment on all of that. Not in terms of historical accuracy, but on how it happens.
Finally, the film is also one of those rare glimpses into the religious conservatism that shaped the history of the making of America and that continues to linger on (especially every time Sarah Palin does a little jig – laugh!)
So while this would never be a landmark film in the history of cinema, it still makes for interesting viewing from all these different perspectives.
1 Comment
October 22, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Hi Christina, I haven’t heard of this film but I do have to agree, what is it with US history and September 11th? I’m reading a book about the Pilgrims right now and getting a good idea of just how religious conservatism shaped this country. For all this talk of being liberal (the word and not the political party) the US has some deeply conservative roots.