Search - Bruce Broughton :: True Women: Original Soundtrack (1997 Television Mini-Series)

Good Female Cast in a Melodramatic Story in the South

Tsuyoshi | Kyoto, Japan | 09/10/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hallmark Entertainment offers a sweeping drama about the three women living in the South, from the time of "Alamo" to the Civil War. I am afraid that your teacher of history cannot allow you to use this TV series as a text for American history, and that is simply because it is too melodramatic, in the fashion of that famous Margaret Michell's book. The story is too fast; the characters are too many; but the film never stops, and something happens every ten minutes -- war, lynch, dead bodies (including children), commentary about slavery, rights for women to vote, human rights for native Americans. In a sense, this is a modern version of "Gone with the Wind" with smaller scale.Georgia and Euphemia are good friends, but the latter is forced to leave her in order to go to Texas (until then, it takes only ten minutes). The film traces the life of the two women separately until their reunion of many years later. Now Georgia and Euphemia (with her independent sister) are both grown up, after the happy and sad times, and as you will expect, their environments changed what they once were; though they know they are no longer the best friends who played together by the peaceful riverside, they come to understand each other after the many plights of life in time of war.There are so many events that happen every five minutes (as the editorial review say rightly) that it is impossible for me to summerize the whole story. The film goes just like turning pages of paperbacks: now you see delightful scenes, and suddenly, a war or epidemic breaks out. Now you see Georgia meets a man, and next, you see their pledge of love. The film gives no time to think. But that is probably the point.So, it would be best for us to see the actors. Angelina Jolie and Anabeth Gish are both good, and it is a bit surprise that their characters in childhood are played respectively by lovely Rachel Leigh Cook and Tina Majorino (who stole every scene from Kevin Costenr in "Waterworld." Male character players like Powers Boothe and Tony Todd appear, alongside with Micheal York, but their roles are smaller they should be. But it is a film about women, and female players all shine, of course, with Dana Delaney. So, see this one as such, as a melodramatic rendition of the Southern history. It is a laudable attempt to spotlight the women's roles in the Western genre, but perhaps the film gives you an impression that there is another way of describing it. My honest feeling is that "True Women" works as a melodrama, and women's life of this time, which deserve our attention more, should be treated with deeper characters and a slower story. Still intriguing."

One of the Better Westerns!

Cathleen M. Walker | 04/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dana Delaney should play stronger characters like the one she played in this movie--she was amazing! The movie brilliantly portrayed the tense love/hate relationship between the Indians and the white man and the great respect that existed between them at times. Throughout the movie, you know that Tarantula wants Sarah and could probably take her at any time, but denies himself & chooses not to take her because of his great respect for her courage. Towards the end of the movie, you see this respect repeated when Phemie chooses to give Tarantula her horse and tells him he should not have to walk. Incredible! The friendship between Phemie and Georgia is fantastic--kind of a "Beaches" theme where they become friends as children and remain friends throughout their lives, overcoming personal differences & making an impact as women on history.The little girl who played Phemie as a child is absolutely adorable--they couldn't have picked anyone better to play her part. She was very convincing & very funny at times. I would definitely recommend this movie to Western lovers and non-Western lovers alike!"

A classic of epic proportions!

Cathleen M. Walker | Massachusetts | 01/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To think, I didn't even know this movie existed! If I hadn't been doing a search for movies with Tina Majorino (Corrinna, Corrinna) I would never have discovered it -- and yet here are three of my favorite women stars: Dana Delany, Tina Majorino, and Angelina Jolie, all together in one big beautiful package! And in my favorite genre, too! A family of women building the country together, facing hostile Indians, the question of slavery, the brutality of life in a time of hard work and multiple hardships. Women and children died more often than not, and survival is the key to success in those times. I loved the historic context, and the delicately drawn complexities of the issues, from Indians to slavery to war to suffrage. It's all in there. Why this movie got next to no publicity is beyond me.What does puzzle me is the fabulous Indian "Tarantula." I don't know who played him. He's not listed on the box, nor in the credits -- none of the "Indians" are. He was magnificent. I would love to know who he was/is.I would highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in the side of history we don't get enough of: "herstory." And of course, to fans of Angelina Jolie. She's as fabulous in this movie as she is in any of her others, and plays a role quite distinct from what you may be used to. Her character is complex, admirable, and made me think and question everything I thought I knew about Southern women. In fact, she brought a bit of "Gone With the Wind" to the role, without being too obvious about it.Dana Delaney carries the movie from beginning to end and is as wonderful, believable, powerful and sexy as she is in China Beach. What a great movie! It's long, but not a moment is wasted and I had no trouble staying with it. You won't either."