This is a little historical
film that is almost a lesbian love story. Over 400 women fought in the Civil War
disguised as men, some assuming a male identity for the rest of their lives. This
is one such story. Writer/director Whitney Hamilton also stars as Grace,
a woman in trouble in 1862 Virginia. Her fiancé and brother are away fighting
on opposite sides in the Civil War. When her father passes away, she's left all
alone. Cutting her hair and donning her brother's clothes, Grace passes
as a man to try to find her sibling in the Confederate Army. As Henry, she runs
into Virginia (Dana Bennison), a woman who has also lost everything. They travel
together, becoming closer, even kissing, although Henry stops the embrace at that. When
Henry is shot, Virginia must nurse him back to health, warming his chills with
her naked body next to his ... even though she is fully aware at this point that
Grace is really a she. Although there is a declaration of love and plenty of opportunity,
alas, the romance disappointingly never comes to fruition. This is a very
low budget production, quite difficult for a period drama using reenactment groups
for civil war battles. It does have a nice old timey mountain music soundtrack
that brings emotion to some scenes. We learn that Grace lived as Henry for the
rest of her life, but we're left with the sting of the potential love lost. |