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:

They Won

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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 reason San Francisco was chosen as the place the audience watches the "documentary" was because the filmmakers wanted the irony of portraying a traditionally ultra-liberal city in the ultra-conservative Confederacy.

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Goofs

The opening station identification states the station is from San Fransisco. However, later in the film, a "news update" section shows a cityscape featuring the Empire State building.

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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 Happy Days (1974)

User Reviews

Funny, satirical look at parallel US

I was able to catch CSA at the TRUE/FALSE Film Festival in Columbia, MO (great fest, kudos to all involved). The Producer and Director of CSA were there to briefly discuss the film. Sadly, it was held at the Blue Note, which is a fantastic venue for watching bands, but not for screening films. Anyway, on to the review.

Told like a Ken Burns Civil War documentary, CSA really gives a great look at what "might have been." From Jefferson Davis as the President of the United States and his exile of Abraham Lincoln to Canada, to The President meeting with Chancellor Hitler to discuss enslaving the Jewish race as opposed to destroying it to JFK's assasination because of his wanting to end slavery, the film touched on many of the United States' milestone moments told through this alternate universe. The span of American history is so vast that, unfortunately the film raises more questions than could possibly be answered.

The director spoke after the film and said he made this film to bring the subject of race to the forfront and to open discussion about it. As far as a spark for discussion, it works well. I just wish it could have delved deeper into the social, economical and political issues it raises (would there be protests toward slavery as now there are protests against the Bush administration's unilateral attack on Iraq? Interesting topic...).

The one thing that completely blew me away was that all the products advertised in the "commercial breaks" were real. I knew of one or two, but not all of them. That was a very interesting twist that stood out in a film filled with interesting and satirical twists.