Customer Reviews

True Women

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

You know the story already, if only from a million predictable Hollywood films. The message is that life is about struggle. But in the case of Ms. Windle's book and this subsequent TV movie, the women of Texas are given a chance to share their point of view. I teach Texas History here in the lone star state, and use clips from the film with my 7th graders. It's hammy and overdone, clubs you with its message, and exaggerates relationships to tell the story of Texas. My 12-year olds love it! (This should be warning for all discriminating movie viewers) I use it to show the woman's point of view in my class, and it's really one of the only films I can utilize in that respect. It's fun to discuss the true story with the kids and then pop in True Women and see how they distort it! The kids think it's a game to find all the inaccuracies. Sam Houston burned down Gonzales, not Santa Anna. San Jacinto was fought at 2pm and lasted 18 minutes, not "all night long" as the movie suggests. There are no hills upon which to watch the battle; if you've ever been to the battlefield in Houston you know it's as flat as a table. In all a fun and foolish film, but if it gets people interested in real Texas History, then so be it. The Indians even speak with that ridiculous laconic English like in the old westerns! Ex: "You brave squaw-child." I'm not kidding! After you watch, read James Haley's "Texas: from Frontier to Spindletop" and get the scoop on our awesome history and our real TRUE WOMEN.

This is not a film for everyone. Although it can be considered a family film, the many scenes of violence (and a couple of sexual ones), make it viewing for a more mature audience. Recommended for ages 12 (14 for boys), and older. Descretion advised.
The overall production is superb. As is the acting. I watched all 3 hours of it, straight thru. It was entirely enthralling.
Historically enlightening, the film shows how rugged the pioneer women of Texas were. They were more than tough, they were superwomen.
A sweeping epic that encompasses a generation of 3 Texas pioneer familes, it adeptly shows the inside look at the Muscogee Creek 'Trail of Tears' (from Georgia), the War with Mexico, the defense against vindictive Commanche, and the homefront battles during the Civil War. All from the women's perspective. Relating their sacrifices, friendships and family life, as they strive to survive some of the most grueling times, of the early years of Texas.
Angelina Jolie and Annbeth Gish both show their broad range as actors, but i think it was the character of Dana Delaney that was the anchor of the film. Although she smokes a pipe like a man, she is reserved & resourceful...and although tender as a wife, mother and sister, yet she's as tough as nails when it comes to defending her loved-ones. Willing to sacrifice her own life in doing so. I loved that about her.
This film accurately portrays what pioneers were really like. Real women and real men...they sure don't make 'em like that anymore.
This one is a must see!

"true women" is a super movie! It shows the problems faced by the Texas pioneer women-from Indians, disease, death, war, rivers, crops, children, and Texas politics!
Its grand-pretty well acted and I have enjoyed it several times.

This may become one of my favorite movies (Last of the Dogmen-favorite). It shows the strength of women under most difficult circumstances. I found myself imagining what it would have been like to be a woman living in those times. I think about how fortunate not to have our brothers/sons/husbands etc. fighting each other in our own country, and not to be having wars in our own country.
Overall, I found it very inspiring, heartwarming/wrenching, and hard to watch in some scenes. I think I will buy more copies for Mother's Day gifts for sisters/friends/daughter, etc.
Will be watching it again, and probably again..........

Though it's technically "old", this movie is a MUST-SEE!!! It is about some very brave and determined women living in the mid to late 1800's, spanning the U.S. Mexican War, the Civil War, and various other predicaments of the time period.

The story traces the lives of two girls, Georgia and Euphemia, who are best friends. Phemie's father has just died and she must go to Texas to live with her older sister Sarah, who is already a mother. Phemie finds herself in the middle of the U.S. Mexican War and she watches in awe as her sister leads the women pioneers to safety while their men heroically defend their homes. Georgia, back in Georgia :-), is experiencing some very horrific acts on prejudice. She herself is part Native American so her family is in great danger. The girls grow up in this young and troubled nation, and reunite to fight against the prejudice and other social issues.

This film is truly inspirational and has lots of action, so I think guys will enjoy it too! ;-) The cast includes Angelina Jolie and young Rachael Leigh Cook (the grown-up and little Georgias, respectively). You have to watch this movie - it is so well-written and acted, and a guaranteed tearjerker!!!

As with many Hallmark mini-series, "True Women" covered a lot of ground -- maybe too much -- but was entertaining and informative, covering events in U.S. history from the female point-of-view for a change. Dana Delany excels playing strong characters and Sarah McClure is one of her best roles ever. All the parts were well-cast; even small parts, such as Irene Bedard's Toby, were played by wonderful actors. Michael Greyeyes, as Tarantula, was particularly memorable in a small role. I would have given "True Women" five stars if only the last hour hadn't hurdled over events at lightspeed. I still recommend it to anyone interested in revisiting history in an intelligent, visually exciting way.

It really is too bad that this movie ended -- with NO ending - this movie had great potential to be a good western - about the life of the women in the frontier but you get to the end and have no resolution about any of the women - you are lead to believe a certain fate for two of the women but never get to really know and they completly forget about Georgia - i would not recommend this movie to a western lover it will only dissapoint you