The War Between (2024) Film Review
Deborah Correa‘s The War Between is a fascinating film. It is also a great example of a specific kind of movie that isn’t very popular today, with both audiences and producers. Modern westerns aren’t very successful today from a commercial point of view, and studios don’t seem to put themselves on the line with historical dramas that seem to tell stories that have already been told.
And yes, that happens with The War Between. It’s undeniable that the film doesn’t have an innovative storyline, as we’ve often seen this kind of conflict, even outside the genre. But Correa’s special eye for awakening the universality in the story is what also makes it a very interesting drama, one that doesn’t limit itself to the period where it takes place and is finely tuned to tell a story about humanity in the most hostile of environments.
The film takes us back almost 200 years, in the midst of the American Civil War. All territories are ridden with conflict, and there’s no safe spot where you won’t be pulled to either side. Corporal Israel and Private Moses fight for opposite sides, and they’re great examples of enemies. They meet in the harshest of circumstances, but in a neutral space nonetheless. It’s not that they will respect each other out of kindness. They will have to come together, as a third threat seems to be the turning point.
The War Between then progresses into a different film. One that curiously doesn’t stay as passive as I would have imagined. It’s a drama when it has to contemplate the more sober aspect of its story, but Correa does an impressive job at balancing genres in a surprisingly exciting film.
It’s predictable up to a point because that’s how these stories go. However, the “enemies become friends” premise is juxtaposed with a solid commentary about colonialism that pays tribute to the third factor of the story, the Native-American presence in the conflict. This also clicks with a final message that tries to embed the movie with a stance about catharsis and healing. If The War Between will work as that, then I’m all in.
The great cinematography and music make the film much more authentic than I would have thought at first. Even if it’s categorized as an indie production, it just doesn’t look like one. I should add that the performances by Damian Conrad-Davis and Wayne Charles Baker are spotless. However, it’s Sam Bullington who takes all the credit for stealing every scene he’s in. It’s not just a great performance, but a great characterization of an idea.
Even though The War Between takes a bit of a stumble in the third act as it tries to solve its conflict with unnecessary redemption arcs, it’s nothing short of a compelling revisit of a time of war that we don’t often go back to. It’s a great portrayal of human values subjected to life-changing circumstances, and though it may be seen as unrealistic, there’s nothing bad with fiction teaching us a lesson about what lies deep within ourselves.
