C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America (2004)

Through the eyes of a british "documentary", this film takes a satirically humorous, and sometimes frightening, look at the history of an America where the South won the Civil War.

Director:

Kevin Willmott

Writer:

Kevin Willmott

Stars:

Greg Kirsch, Renee Patrick, Molly Graham

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Greg Kirsch	...	Confederate Family Dad
Renee Patrick	...	Confederate Family Mom
Molly Graham	...	Confederate Family Child
William Willmott	...	Confederate Family Slave / Frederick Douglas (voice) (as Will Willmott)
Rupert Pate	...	Sherman Hoyle
Evamarii Johnson	...	Patricia Johnson
Greg Hurd	...	Mr. Johnson
Ryan L. Carroll	...	Bobby
Don Carlton	...	Colonel Bloodhound
Kevin McKinney	...	Blackface Abraham Lincoln
Will Averill	...	Blackface Harriet Tubman
Arlo Kasper	...	Old Abraham Lincoln
Joe Bugni	...	Car Guy No. 1
Troy Moore	...	Car Guy No. 2
Jennifer Coville	...	Daisie

Storyline

Set in an contemporary alternative world where the Confederate States of America managed to win the American Civil War, a British film documentary examines the history of this nation. Beginning with its conquest of the northern states, the film covers the history of this state where racial enslavement became triumphant and the nation carried sinister designs of conquest. Interspersed throughout are various TV commercials of products of a virulent racist nature as well as public service announcements promoting this tyranny. Only at the end do you learn that there is less wholly imagined material in the film than you might suspect.

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Plot Keywords:

american | tv commercial | american civil war | civil war | confederate states of america | 

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Taglines:

What if the South had won the War?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

IFC Films Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 2005 (Spain)

Also Known As:

O.P.A.: Omospodia Politeion tis Amerikis

Filming Locations:

Lawrence, Kansas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,644 (USA) (14 October 2005)

Gross:

$671,122 (USA) (30 June 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hodcarrier Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The footage of the "JBU terrorist attack" was actually news reel footage from when a B-25 bomber accidentally crashed into the Empire State Building.

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Goofs

In the short film "The Hunt for Dishonest Abe", the blackfaced Abraham Lincoln has his makeup smeared off his right cheek on one frame before the Confederate general streaks his fingers on that spot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[commercial for Confederate Family Insurance]
Confederate Family Insurance Speaker: A man fills many roles in his lifetime: provider, protector, master of the house. As a father you have a vital role in your family's life. They depend on you to be there. We help to make sure you can fulfill that promise, because
[pause]
Confederate Family Insurance Speaker: no matter what they call you
[pause]
Confederate Family Insurance Speaker: at the end of the day
[pause]
Confederate Family Insurance Speaker: you know you're just
[pause]
[...]

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Connections

References Red Dawn (1984)

User Reviews

Faux Documentary with few Faults

CSA is about the history of the Confederate States of America - from the moment they won the Civil War to today. This new twist on "what if history" will touch many different emotions.

One of the ways this differs from other scenarios of the South winning the Civil War is that the south conquers the north rather than simply having two countries. As director Wilmott said "I've never heard of a country saying 'hey we kicked your *** now you go be by yourself'. Its more like 'here's Bob and he's going to rule you for a while.'"

One of the things this movie offers is grand humor. The humor in the movie is funny because there are points so absurd they're just hilarious. For example, there is a whole sequence of President Lincoln running from the law with the help of Harriet Tubman. It is especially brought home when Wilmott blends in D.W.Griffith's films to show the capture of Lincoln (in black face) as portrayed in a D.W. Griffith film developed in that timeline.

When its not funny however, the movie makes you feel uncomfortable. For example, Wilmott shows the movie as if it were being broadcast on a standard television station and therefore advertises various products. These products make you wonder if you should be laughing, outraged or something else. Some of the products include Niggerhair Cigarettes, Darky Toothpaste, and Coon Chicken Inn (all of which, were real products well into the 20th century).

Wilmott also makes the issue of slavery sink in without showing the full brutality thereof. As Wilmott explained, he wanted to do a movie that focused on slavery rather than a movie like "Cold Mountain" where the slavery issue is scuttled aside. Wilmott definitely succeeds in his mission too! He makes you think about slavery without making you feel disgusted from the brutality. The movie, amazingly, is put together so well that you find yourself laughing at points and cringing at others.