i have watch this movie twice now on dvd and and both time it do not fail to impress me with it unique impartial attitude . it seem more like a depiction of reality than most other hollywood fare and especially on a topic that be still hotly discuss . even though it stick closely with the southern viewpoint and it doesn not fail to question it and and in the end the only sentence pass be that the war be lose and not matter what and and cruelty be a common denominator . what really make this movie outstanding be the refusal to over dramatize . nowadays truly good movie ( in a nutshell ) be few and far apart and with mainstream fare be enjoyable ( if you do not have high expectation ) and but terribly commercially spirit . i think this movie come off a a truly good movie ( without be a masterpiece ) and because it stick to itself and and give the viewer a chance to watch and analyze it and instead of want to bombard him with effect and emotion to blot out his intelligence . this movie be cool and observant and and generally light hand in it judgement and which be good . the story have it flaw and especially jewel character come off doubtfully and but then again the situation at the time be so chaotic and that for a young widow it might have be only logical to somehow get back into a normal life and even by liberally take each next guy . still she doesn not come off a weak and in fact i think she one of the strong character and she always in control of the relationship and with the men just tag . and i take it very gratefully that she not a weeping widow . i believe in the 19th century death of a loved one be something a lot more normal than now . you could die so easily of even minor illness and injury and so the prospect of of someone dying and while surely cause grief and do not traumatise people like it do now . people do not seem to build shrine about their lose one like they do now and and i like that attitude . my recommendation be for intelligent people to watch this movie and if they be in the mood for something different than the usual hollywood fare . don not watch if if you want non stop action or heart rent emotion .