September Dawn

Pre-mortem comment
Been waiting for this DVD to come out since first seeing it in the theatres- and having since read several histories about the historical event. There already have been numerous website slugfests about just how accurate the movie is, with most of the debate just re-emphasizing how, 150 years later, the Mormon community still struggles to reconcile this documented part of their church history.
But before the DVD is even released, and before the anticipated subsequent storm of prejudiced-laced customer "reviews" ( and it doesn't even matter which side they are for), let me just say that the "editorial review" summary ought to at least introduce the topic fairly. For one, it is hardly an issue of uncertainty whether or not Mormons participated in the massacre- indeed, the valid histories (even the source work by Juanita Brooks, herself a devout Mormon)all confirm that Mormons did most of the killing, and even eventually owned-up to that, but only after years of trying to pawn it off...

Not the best; not the worst
Surprised to see this film currently has a rating of 4.5 stars. I guess Mormon advocates haven't realized this item is up and open for comments. Glad I can get mine in before the comment wars begin. I liked the movie overall. As a professor of religion I know the story accords with historical facts of the Mountain Meadows massacre as well as we know them. It truly does show how human beings can do the most atrocious things to one another if they believe they receive the blessing of God in doing so. I would only wish they ask some basic epistemological questions about the justification of their claim to knowledge that it is God they are truly hearing. The film mentions possible motives like the belief the federal government was about to start a war against the Mormons and payback for the murder of Joseph Smith in Missouri. One explanation for the massacre the film does not address but needs to be explored is using religious justification for plain old greed. There was a lot of wealth,...

IMPORTANT FILM, BUT DISAPPOINTING, TOO
One several levels, this movie is very good. Visually it is excellent. The acting is also quite good. However, as can be expected, the story line which is based on true events, has been polarized and sensationalized. The story of the massacre would be far more interesting (not to mention accurate) if the film makers used more history to complicate the story and they did silencing certain historical factors in an effort to see the story in black and white.

It is difficult to "explain" the reasons for the massacre without coming off as trying to "excuse" the massacre. Nevertheless it is possible to do just that (explain without excusing) and this is what I was hoping the movie would do especially since the Mormon church does not try to make excuses for the event (rather they accept the fact that some members acted wrongfully and have publically apologized without equivocation) something about which the movie misleads views (at the end of the film).

Of course...

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