While the Western itself was initially seen as a romanticized homeland film, the best and most enduring representatives of the genre have always been those who critically examine (contemporary) history. Excellent examples of this are ‘The Black Falcon’, ‘The Lullaby of Manslaughter’ and ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’.
2014’s “The Keeping Room – Until the Last Bullet” may not have everything it takes to be a classic, but for fans of the genre, it’s definitely worth checking out! The dark western deals bitterly with the civil war and its consequences. Haven’t seen the movie yet? Then you can watch it tonight, March 19 at 10 p.m. on Tele 5.
That’s what ‘The Keeping Room’ is about
In 1865, the civil war is almost over, but a new danger threatens Augusta (Brit Marling), her sister Louise (Hailee Steinfeld) and the slave Mad (Muna Otaru). The Northerners are suddenly exposed to a team of Southern soldiers. Fed up with the countless hardships of war, they break away from the Union army.
Now the deserters are robbing, looting and murdering and making the area unsafe. When they finally meet the three women, they assume that they are standing in front of apparently helpless victims and believe that they are in a superior position. But the ladies do everything they can to prevent the men from attacking them and their house.
Delayed and debilitating
With ‘The Keeping Room’, director Daniel Barber delivers a captivating war western that once again wants to make it clear to everyone that war mainly leads to one thing: brutalization and sadness. However, the film is not about deriving this insight from the brutal battles the Yankees and Confederates once fought over four years. Instead, he views the civil war from his own, spatially clearly defined perspective.
The focus here is on three women who, despite ever-increasing existential fears, feel compelled to defend themselves. As a war-scarred monster, “Avatar” star Sam Worthington gets to cause disgust in his most disgusting role yet. Daniel Barber not only breaks through the gender identities attributed to the classic western, but also works towards a brutal finale that, despite all the violent necessity, has no real triumph. War is hell, both on the field and on the home front.