The Four Feathers (2002). A story of a young British officer who resigned his post when he and his friends were being sent off to Sudan. His father, who was a British war hero, disowned him and his friends and fiancee gave him a white feather each, as a symbol of cowardice. He lived alone, yet hearing news about his friend being harmed in the war, he then did all he could - even disguising as an Arab - so he could save his friend and redeem himself from his previous action. In the end, his father acknowledged him and his friends and fiancee took back the white feather they once gave him. This movie was an adaptation of a 1902 novel of the same title by A.E.W. Mason. This film stars the late Heath Ledger together with Kate Hudson, Wes Bentley, and Djimon Hounsou, and was directed by Shekhar Kapur.
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I had no idea what the story was back in 2004, all I know was that I was inside AstroVision looking for some VCDs. It was the Christmas season that time, and knowing my late father loved war movies, I decided to buy the copy of the movie and wrapped it as my gift to him. He watched it a few days after receiving the gift, and told me that he liked the movie. Curious about the certain things in the movie dad talked about, I watched it as well.
I guess the most beautiful thing about this movie was how a young officer who never wanted to go in the war suddenly plunged in and did everything to save his friend. Even if his friend thought of him as a coward for giving up his post, he managed to do lots of impossible things just to make sure his friend would come home safe. Rare is a friend like him, really.
From the story, to the acting... all the way to the cinematography, this movie is really something worth seeing.
*** Jenn ***
