Glorification and simplicity

Rating: 5/10 (18 October 2008)

The American civil war was fought against slavery, but specifically because northern businessmen feared the hegemony of their slave-owning southern counterparts; Lincoln's conversion to the doctrine of universal human rights was an emergent, and controversial, feature of the conflict. A drama about the first black regiment to fight in the war is therefore potentially rife with intriguing ambiguity; unfortunately, 'Glory' prefers to portray the regiment (and it's saintly white commander) as straightforward heroes, and the drama proceeds without much subtlety. The soundtrack in the closing sections, with its choral overtones, is used to underscore the simplistic take home message; while the acting and writing has a two-dimensional quality throughout. A shame, as I'm sure there's an interesting tale in this story; but this rendition is obvious and dull.