The British soldiers are portrayed as arrogant imperialists and the patriotic young officers as hungry for battle when they learn of the attack on the British fortress at Khartoum. But in their British pride, the soldiers know little about the desert tribes rebelling against British aggression. Bloody, gruesome battles feature sword hacks and bayonet stabs. Bodies of massacred armies, dead bodies thrown in open pits, wild dogs chewing on dying and dead soldiers, cadavers stripped of their uniforms and worn by the enemy make this movie seem quite violent, but despite the intensity, much of the action is relatively bloodless. Naive Harry finds himself alone and lost in the desert. Dying of thirst, he thrusts his knife into his camel’s neck and tries to drink the gushing blood. Abou Fatma (Djimon Housou), a black giant of a man both physically and spiritually, appears out of nowhere to become Harry’s savior, stating that God put Harry in his way. Along with prayers for favor over their enemy, God’s providence of help and safety underlies several scenes. Reflecting the Victorian setting, THE FOUR FEATHERS has little objectionable language or sexual content, although some bare male rears are briefly seen in a barracks shower. A brief, obscured scene of a Sudanese prostitute strongly implies sex with another prisoner takes place in a dark cave. The horrendous battles and graphic beatings seem more intense than necessary but without the brief sexual content and more gruesome scenes of warfare, this adaptation of a historical novel could be recommended for older teens and adults.
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