Le Crépuscule des braves

"Buffalo Soldiers" is a very frustrating film. It's about a seldom talked about group of black cavalry soldiers who helped tame and protect the west during the late 19th century and it's nice to see them get their due. Unfortunately, late in the film, the writers are very fast and loose with history and give us an ending that is just wrong and never happened.

The story shows the men and how they often were mistreated and mischaracterized by the white officers who sometimes hated them for their skin color. Not all the white officers in the film seemed to feel this way...but the General does and this makes it tough for these brave men. And, as they try to find and locate a renegade group of the Mescalero Apache tribe, he often gives them lousy assingments and seemed to look for reasons to blame their failure on their skin. And the ending....well, this simply never happened which is a problem since the story is set during the so-called 'Victorio's Wars'...and the Victorio in the film and his real life and fate are at complete odds with each other. Worth seeing but seriously flawed.

In the post-Civil War world, Texas Rangers track Apache war chief Victorio across the border to the federal New Mexico Territories. Sgt. Washington Wyatt (Danny Glover) leads the all negro US Cavalry H Troop. He arrests the Rangers for trespassing and murder. Commander Gen. Pike looks down on the colored troops and their command abilities. He puts southerner Maj. Robert Carr (Timothy Busfield) in charge despite his unwillingness to lead them. Col. Benjamin Grierson is a more supportive officer. John Horse (Carl Lumbly) is the native guide. Victorio is on the loose and on the attack.

This is an interesting and little told American history. There are compelling stories to be told. It would have been more interesting to have more diverse personalities in the colored troops. They are almost all stoic which leaves the group rather flat. I would also love to see the other side of the story from Victorio's point of view. Of course, that may make it too complicated. This is still a very compelling TV movie.

"Buffalo Soldiers' is an average western/adventure entry that tell a story about a troop in the U.S. Army after the Civil War exclusively for black soldiers. Based on this historical point, the movie is concerned with some crucial aspects of these arrangements: the bad treatment that was given to the black soldiers by some of the white officials, the evident absurdity of serve in the U.S Army, die for the country and not receive an equal treatment and some other minor stuffs. 'Buffalo Soldiers' tries to do that without lose the sense of adventure and action along the way. Here, the success is just mild. Sometimes, you feel that the dialogs are a bit too dialectical, too political, to be really natural. And the ending is a bit too unreal, maybe, especially when one considers the shape of conscience of the sergeant-major, played by Danny Golver. All considered, that is not a bad movie. But its commitment to discuss aspects like freedom, self-conscience, compassion and respect for the Apache culture, weighed the movie a bit too heavy. Good performances all around, especially Carl Lumbly as the scout named Horse.

Picking this movie up from the library shelf, I didn't read anything on the box about it being historically accurate or factual so I didn't expect to get a history lesson by watching it. For a one hundred minute made for TV movie I wasn't at all disappointed, and felt entertained for the time I invested in it. Besides being filmed on location, it appeared a good effort was made in the uniform and prop department and it did not have a Hollywood look or feel to it. I would recommend this movie to those who like westerns; and don't have an eye and ear for knowing it all, or watch movies for their political or social messages. I did notice that their 1873 Colt's had the wrong frame for the time period, and the cylinders weren't beveled as they should have been, but I guess we all have to find fault somewhere, even us simple mined folk. Watch it, and enjoy it for what it is.

Can't understand why so many dislike and are genuinely appalled at this incredible movie. It's not meant to be 100%factual. Its meant to show the spirit of these incredible men back then,their relentless courage, bravery and some of the moral dilemmas they no doubt faced. Great cast,well directed,,a must see,in my humble opinion.