The Patriot

In Hollywood, history is typically overlooked in the name of entertainment. It is rare to see people flock to the theatres for the sake of an hour and a half history lesson. Rather, the major blockbusters of our time are often composed of nothing but a purely fictional script. It is rare to find a film that provides a good mix of history while remaining entertaining for an extended period of times. Like most Hollywood History films, The Patriot tries to find the perfect balance of fiction and truth into a very entertaining two hours. By examining the film’s story and its historical accuracies and inaccuracies, this will becomes increasingly apparent. The Patriot, released in 2000, details the campaign of a war that has been, for the most part, ignored in the film world. It is 1776 when the Revolutionary War began between the American Colonists and the British soldiers. The main character, Benjamin Martin, is a veteran of the French and Indian war who wants independence from Britain, but is not willing to risk the safety of his already motherless children by going to war. The film tells the story of Benjamin Martin, played by Mel Gibson, a South Carolina planter raising his seven children by himself. Though Martin is seriously opposed to South Carolina’s vote and pursue of independence to take part in the war due to his previous experience with an earlier war, his son Gabriel, played by Heath Ledger, is not opposed. Gabriel goes against his father and decides to enlist with the continental army. Benjamin Martin remains a pacifist until the war ends up on his land. He helped wounded soldiers both from the American side & British side and because of that he was viewed as a traitor to many people. After British troops led by Colonel Tavington, portrayed by Jason Isaacs, rode upon the scene and found Martin tending to both soldiers, Tavington ordered Martin’s house be burned and killed his second eldest son. The death of his son, Thomas, made Martin react and join the fighting with his son Gabriel. Martin then takes command of the local militia. From here, Martin and his men begin using guerilla tactics to attack the various British soldiers they encounter. Used to a more “civilized” form of combat, Cornwallis is driven crazy by new form of warfare and allows Colonel Tavington to use any means necessary to kill Benjamin Martin. Martin comes up with a strategy of using militia as a decoy by asking two shots from the militia before retreat. The film culminates with one final battle scene between Cornwallis and the continental army. The theme of patriotism in this movie is stunningly absent. The period represented in the historical events which they attempt to depict will indeed invoke ideas of patriotism; but as we sink deeper and deeper in this action-packed, violence-packed movie, we realized that the main characters and most of the ones revolving around them have other motives than patriotism.