Movie "Ride with the Devil"

2001 / Country of Origin: USA / Runtime: 138 minutes /
Original Title RIDE WITH THE DEVIL
Director: Ang Lee
Original Work: Daniel Woodrell, Cinematography: Frederick Elmes, Music: Mychael Danna, Production Design: Mark Friedberg, Editing: Tim Squyres, Costume Design: Mari-An Ceo

Trailer (International Version) The Criterion Collection

STORY

During the American Civil War, the fighting on the border between Missouri and Kansas was not carried out by regular armies, but by the local residents, divided into supporters and opponents of slavery.
Supporters of slavery became Confederate guerrillas, engaging in fierce battles against regular Union troops and Union guerrillas. Taking either side was dangerous, but the most dangerous thing was to be caught in the middle.

In 1861, a young man born in Germany and raised in Missouri (a German immigrant) Jake Roedel and the son of a wealthy plantation owner Jack Bull Chiles are inevitably drawn into the conflict by the outbreak of the Civil War.

REVIEW

A masterpiece that fully demonstrates director Ang Lee's rich sensibilities, supported by a generous budget and a wonderful cast.
However, it is not well known in Japan and only available on DVD, so I purchased the Criterion Blu-ray version.
Everything about it is rich and wonderful (the "costumes" and "music" are also outstanding work).
The original work is the novel "Woe to Live On" by Daniel Woodrell. It is a mystery why it remains untranslated in Japan despite being a masterpiece...

The setting is 1860s America.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, two young men who joined a Confederate guerrilla unit led by Black John for various reasons, Jake Roedel and the son of a wealthy plantation owner Jack Bull Chiles (the two are childhood friends), are drawn into a gruesome war regardless of their own intentions.
The Confederate guerrilla unit led by Black John to which they belong includes the gentlemanly George Clyde and his former slave and close friend, the Black man Daniel Holt who are members, and these four intelligent men build a relationship of trust. However, the unit also includes Pitt Mackeson and others who kill indiscriminately (following their own emotions) regardless of whether they are "enemy," "ally," or "civilian." These basically ignorant "thugs" treat the educated German immigrant Jake Roedel and the Black man Daniel Holt with blatant discrimination, and eventually try to take their lives at every opportunity.
Therefore, a sense of tension permeates the screen from beginning to end, and the viewer, along with the protagonists, re-experiences the danger and terror of being "caught in the middle" between the "Confederates (including guerrillas)" and the "Union (including guerrillas)" during the Civil War.
*By the way, many German immigrants at the time sided with the Union.

Also, the story begins from the conventional perspective of the white Southerners of the time, and then slowly shifts to the perspectives of the German immigrant Jake Roedel and the Black man Daniel Holt (those on the side being discriminated against), and the woman Sue Lee who loses two men she loves in the war. Through the changes in these three, the viewer also re-experiences the great "swell (change)" of the era and the splendor of "freedom."

One of the highlights of this film, I think, is that it depicts the dark parts of white people (a dark history that is sometimes still considered taboo in white American society), such as the "white discrimination" of the time and the "Lawrence Massacre (massacre of civilians)," without sugarcoating.
And that is proof of the valuable work of the original author, Daniel Woodrell.
*Lawrence Massacre
August 21, 1863. An incident in which the town was burned down and more than 180 residents lost their lives in a few hours. One of the stains on American history

Changing the subject, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who played the villain Pitt Mackeson, is sparkling with the beauty of his prime (the thumbnail photo is Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and he is the best.
Personally, I think he is one of the most beautiful villains in film history.
Please take a look at Jonathan Rhys Meyers from 4:38~ in the video ① that I pasted below. He is too beautiful.
If you watched ① and thought "That's cool!", please also watch ②.

①

②

Finally
This film is a work with very beautiful (probably fresh green) greenery, and it is one with my favorite colors.

Daniel Woodrell "Woe to Live On" UK Edition Cover