The Four Feathers (2002)

Synopsis: In 1884, a young British soldier decides to quit the army, thus arousing quite a reaction from family and friends.
Appraisal: Although I haven't read a single review for this film, I deduce that they were wildly mixed, because some critics have included it in their "bottom ten" lists for 2002 and, oddly enough, others have included it in their "top ten" lists. I side up with its supporters, but not with the most enthusiastic ones. My opinion is that there is nothing essentially wrong with it; there are some rough edges yes, mainly in screenplay and acting, but nothing that will ruin the film.
Its theme is redemption, but it is addressed at a higher level of complexity than usual in films, and no easy solutions are at hand. The main character seeks not only the approval of his peers, family and loved one; he seeks also the overcoming of what he sees as his most terrible flaw: fear. Its director appears to have been smart enough to understand the material he had in his hands, and shows good judgement in the staging of both the outdoor, action-oriented sequences and in the indoor, intimate ones. Sure there are some clumsy moments in both, but imperfection is not sinonym to utter badness.
One might, upon superficial analysis, consider this film bellicist and even pro-colonialism. Nothing could be more misguided. It deals with a specific period in history and a specific society, so it's natural that its characters think and act according to that period and society. After all, it's not the job of films to issue moral or ideological judgment about the people they portray.
Rating: 52