SUDAN (THE)

Four Feathers (The)

Era: 19 th century.

Situation: The Sudan. The action in this film is woven into events that lead up to the defeat of the Khalifa of Sudan's army at Omdurman in 1898 by British forces under the command of Major General Lord Kitchener. The focus is on the concept of manliness as it was interpreted by Imperialistic Victorian English society. The son of a respectable army general has no desire to be an officer in the Queen's army and resigns his commission. Unfortunately, his timing is bad, as he commits this act just prior to a war against the Mahdi in the Sudan. His three compatriots as well as his fiancée brand him a coward with the censure of four white feathers. He embarks an a personal journey to prove them wrong. Leadership issues in the film demonstrate examples of both Imperial overconfidence in the face of what is believed to be a inferior foe and righteous indignation born from a religious fundamentalist zeal on the part of the Mahdi. As well, many examples of personal leadership through both direct and indirect influence abound.

Primary Actors: Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, and Kate Hudson.

VHS 337233, ISBN 0-7921-8987-6, Colour / approximately 130 Min., MIRAMAX / Paramount Pictures, 2002. (See also earlier version produced sometime within the 1930's / 50's?)