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The Four Feathers is a 2002 film directed by Shekhar Kapur, starring Heath Ledger, based on the 1902 novel of the same name by A.E.W. Mason.
The film is set in 1880s Britain and the Sudan during the Mahdist Revolt. After resigning from the British Army the week they were to ship out to fight the Mahdi in the Sudan, Harry Faversham (Ledger) receives four feathers[1] from his friends and his fiancée. Shaken by guilt, he decides to redeem himself by going to the Sudan alone and find his friends.
Tropes used in The Four Feathers include:
- Black Dude Dies First: Subverted spectacularly with Abou Fatma during the prison escape, with a little Call Back to an earlier trick that the Mahdi used.
- Butt Monkey: Edward Castleton. He is usually the butt of jokes from Harry's other friends. Nevertheless, Castleton is loyal and the only one of his friends that didn't send Harry a feather. Castleton is killed in battle by his own men after failing to get back into the defense square.
- Dirty Coward: Harry is seen as this after he resigns from the unit by his friends, his fiancee, and even his father.
- Eye Scream: Jack's musket explodes in his face, blinding him.
- Fake Brits: Australian Heath Ledger and Americans Wes Bentley and Kate Hudson.
- Kick the Son of a Bitch: Harry's first reaction to Jack after he saves Jack and discovers his letters from Ethne. Subverted when Harry learns that Jack is blind.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Harry's first guide in the Sudan cruelly whipped an African princess traveling with them until Harry stopped him. The African princess and her accomplice kill the guide in his sleep, while sparing Harry.
- Love Triangle: Harry and Ethne are engaged. Jack is in love with Ethne. As soon as Harry disappears, Jack starts courting Ethne. Jack calls off his engagement with Ethne when he finds out Harry saved his life. Harry and Ethne are engaged again.
- MacGuffin: The four feathers he received from Jack, Willoughby, Trench, and Ethne.
- Mistaken for a Spy: Abou Fatma, sent by "a British officer" [Harry] to warn his unit of the upcoming ambush, is thought to be a spy and is whipped without any consideration towards his message.
- Nakama: Harry and his friends, Jack Durrance, Tom Willoughby, Edward Castleton and William Trench.
- Oh Crap: Harry's unit experienced this in battle. Upon closer inspection of a red-coated cavalry riding toward them in the heat of battle:
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"It's not the British! It's the Mahdi!" |
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- The River War: The setting of the film.
- War Is Glorious: A widely-believed view by the British Army at the time.
- What Were You Thinking?: Harry gives this to Willoughby for not listening to Abou Fatma's message from him.
- Wretched Hive: The Sudan is portrayed as this.
- Zerg Rush: The strategy of the Mahdi against the British.
- ↑ a symbol of cowardice at the time