“TELLING IT LIKE IT WAS, DURING LIKE IT IS”
Starring: Emily Mitchell, Christopher Lucas, Cheri Page Fogleman, Martin Ludwinski and Fen Tien Lui
Directed by: Wendy Jo Cohen
Genre: Mocumentary, Comedy, Historical
Running Time: 1hr 36 min
By John Delia
History was never like the movie The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek, but this cynical little tale takes extra steps to guide you through a coup that brought the South down during the American Civil War and settled the argument: Was Col. Jonathan Franklin Hale gay or was it the fashion to wear a dress in combat? Filled with tongue in cheek comedy, this witty ditty is the way all history should be told.
There were many battles during the American Civil War, but one was singled out to be hidden in the deep dark annals buried somewhere in the Library of Congress. Well, so it is presumed because only those who lived it pass along this account. Carried down from decade upon decade to families, friends and prostitutes it masterfully got in the hands of those who could bring it to the big screen. This is a story of heroism and the only way to keep it from dieing is for moviegoers across America to see the film and talk about it for hours.
No comprehension of history is possible without an understanding of those who forged it. By tracing the biographies of Pussy Willow Creek’s heroes – Colonel Jonathan Franklin Hale, General Li Shao-zu, Captain Elijah Swan, and drummer boy Nick Brody (aka, Rowena Harris) – this important film illustrates how their exceptional life stories inevitably led them to that day long ago when they faced an enemy fifty times their strength and somehow prevailed, buying the Union two more interminably tedious years in which to wage war until the Confederacy finally gave up from exhaustion and the Civil War was over – producer Grace A. Burns.
The presentation of the story is not unique but certainly enjoyable with actors posing as notables who have discovered this untold tale and are certain that it is true. Of course that is for the audience to decide and I for one can find no reason to disbelieve it. Especially the story of Civil War Hero Rowena Oaks (aka. Rowena Harris, aka. Candie Apple, aka. Poison Apple and finally aka. Nick Brody), who finding herself penniless entered Chickie’s Henhouse as a woman of ill repute. This sad yet hilarious story is aptly told by Sheba Lajeune, Author of Ladies of Pleasure: A History, and Daphne Jones, Editor of Confederate Women on the Front Lines Digest.
The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek is playing as part of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on Wednesday October 6th, 7:10 PM, at the Cinema Paradiso, in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale at 503 SE 6th St, zip 33301. For tickets go to their website at: www.fliff.com or call (954) 525- FILM.
Oh, and don’t tell a soul that the film is unrated, has some off color language (damn!), trifles with ethnicity (even dorks and nerds), shows photos of war violence (how could they), a mention of Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind,†and the drawing of the opium flower shown many times (how dastardly) or it may bring a standing room only audience and you may not get a seat. If any of this offends you, then it’s probably your kind of movie.
This writer and publication is not responsible for whether you understand ‘tongue in cheek’ comedy.