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You will now view a feature film that dramatizes historical events related to the American Revolution. For this you will need access to a copy of The Patriot (2000), which portrays a man faced with the decision about whether or not to join in the fight against the British.

After you watch the film, discuss these questions with colleagues or reflect on them in your journal. [Note: It is important to view the film and answer the questions before reading the essay below.]

1. Which aspects of the American Revolution are treated plausibly in this film? Which aspects are treated implausibly?
2. Which of these accuracies/inaccuracies are valuable to point out to students, and why?
3. What are the benefits of asking students to consider the reasons filmmakers have chosen to fictionalize certain aspects of this history rather than stick to the very compelling truth?
4. How might you use the film to introduce the idea of the individual in history, and to help personalize the topic of colonial American history -- a topic with which students often have difficulty engaging?
5. What do aspects of the film's portrayal indicate about the values or ideas the producers think are important? What does this tell you about the cultural values of the period when the film was produced?

The essay that follows discusses Hollywood's feature film treatment of the Revolutionary War as both a historic and a dramatic topic, and features an in-depth analysis of The Patriot. To access the essay, go to Hollywood and the American Revolution [PDF].

Discuss with your colleagues or reflect in your journal on the perspective of this essay regarding the portrayal of the Revolutionary War in The Patriot. How does this perspective compare with your observations about the film's plausibility?