C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America

C.S.A.: THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA is a blistering satire / nightmare vision of an alternate America, in which the south won the Civil War. Presented as a "documentary", CSA uses the same, basic structure as a Ken Burns production to great effect. The "history" is shown through "interviews" with "experts", "archival" footage, and "re-enactments".

Intentionally offensive and anything but politically correct, this movie hearkens back to the acidic humor of the NATIONAL LAMPOON magazine, during its early 1970's heyday. The main feature is interrupted by "commercials", reminiscent of films like THE KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, THE GROOVE TUBE, or TUNNEL VISION (also from the '70's). The products / services advertised are extremely racist by design, many being explained at the end of the film.

At once hilarious and jaw-dropping, due to its sledgehammer approach, it's obviously not meant to be taken seriously, not even remotely. In spite of this, the message is clear and direct. Recommended for lovers of controversial comedy, this movie gets extra points for audacity!...

This is an extremely thought-provoking, humorous and sometimes disturbing movie. The performances of some of the actors could be better and the low budget sometimes shows through, but it is such a unique idea and the discussions it causes are so enlightening, that the filmmaker should be given an award just for bravery. I don't know what the nay-sayers were thinking when they wrote some of these comments. They must have seen a different film, this is not Saturday night live satire, it is much darker. Think Dr. Strangelove in blackface!

The fact that it is all based on real plans of the confederacy and real products that have existed in the united states makes it even more frightening. I strongly recommend it.

-Peter

In the faux documentary "CSA," we learn what the twentieth century would have been like if the South had won the Civil War. The Confederate States of America became a nation teeming with racism and misogyny.

As a Southerner, I found the film pretty offensive. It perpetuates the myth that racism is a uniquely Southern commodity and that the South is the birth place of ignorance. A Southern victory, apparently, would have permanently snuffed out any progressive movement in the United States. This would lead to wives being encouraged to let their husbands beat them and televised executions. The South's barbarism and ignorance would have overcome the goodwill and progressive impulses of the enlightened North.

I ain't buying it. It's a simplistic view of history and a damaging caricature of the South that still persists. I have been greeted by a great deal of ignorance outside of the South by folks who still believe today's South is that of "Eyes on the Prize." The LA riots, reaction to the OJ verdict, the Matthew Shepherd murder, etc. reveal that ignorance, hatred, and racism are national problems.

The movie was impressively put together, especially considering its limited budget. It's very compelling, but I found its vision of the South to be ignorant.

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A welcome addition to the Spike Lee family of films and the growing number of films that don't pander to the lowest common denominator for African-Americans: Daughters of the Dust/ Native Son/ Magic Love/The Spook who sat by the Door.

No stunt casting like P.Diddy in Raisin in the Sun.

The concept of alternate universe storytelling is radical for black filmmakers. That they found so much material to support the imaginary world they were creating was astonishing. My only real complaint is the level of acting on display. Some of it is passable but much of it was amateurish, community theater level. Ultimately, the audience for this film will grow over the years and will be discovered by all kinds of movie fans and film buffs.

Had one failed diplomatic initiative during the Civil War succeeded, could it have changed all of history? Perhaps. Kevin Willmott's chilling and somewhat plausible alternate history of America was so well produced that even its exceedingly unlikely and prejudiced retelling of the 20th century passes with a bit of artistic license. It assumes, wrongly, that America is a country completely without any virtue, a view to be rejected outright. Assumptions about a Confederate Empire, chattel slavery spread unimpeded and unchallenged throughout the Americas, a ridiculous notion of a "Cotton Curtain" cold war with Canada just don't add up. It could not have evolved that way. Nonetheless, the alternate 19th century history is utterly fascinating. Had Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin succeeded in getting European powers to fight for the Confederacy, what would America look like today?

Even with its terribly cynical and often unfair view of America, I admit I couldn't stop thinking about this film.