6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Patriot is a 2000 American epic historical war film directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Robert Rodat. The film stars Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, and Tom Wilkinson. Set in Berkeley County, South Carolina, it follows Benjamin Martin (Gibson), an American colonist who is opposed to going to war with Great Britain but, along with his son Gabriel (Ledger), gets swept into the American Revolutionary War when his home life is disrupted, and one of his sons is murdered by a cruel British officer (Isaacs).
The film had its world premiere in Century City on June 27, 2000, and was theatrically released in the United States on June 30, 2000 by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics and grossed $215.3 million against a $110 million budget, and was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Cinematography and Best Original Score.
The Patriot generated significant controversy due its historical inaccuracies, in particular its fictionalized portrayal of British figures and atrocities. The portrayal of the protagonist, a composite character based on several persons including Francis Marion; was also criticized for whitewashing the real figures' own wartime conduct.
Plot
In 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, Benjamin Martin, a French and Indian War veteran and a widower with seven children, is called to Charles Town (Charleston) to vote in the South Carolina General Assembly on a levy supporting the Continental Army. Benjamin abstains, fearing war against Great Britain and not wanting to force others to fight when he himself would not. Still, the vote passes, and Benjamin's oldest son, Gabriel, joins the Continental Army against his father's wishes.
Four years later, in 1780, Charlestown falls to the British Army, and a wounded Gabriel returns home carrying rebel dispatches. The Martins care for wounded British and American soldiers before British dragoons arrive, led by Colonel William Tavington. Tavington press gangs the Martins' African-American former slaves into the army and arrests Gabriel as a spy. Gabriel's brother Thomas tries to free him, but Tavington kills Thomas, then orders the Martins' house burned and all the wounded Americans executed. After the British leave, Benjamin and two of his younger sons ambush the British convoy transporting Gabriel. They succeed in killing all the soldiers and rescuing Gabriel, but Benjamin's brutality frightens his sons.
Gabriel rejoins the Continentals, and Benjamin soon follows, leaving the younger children in the care of his sister-in-law, Charlotte. Benjamin meets his former commanding officer, Colonel Harry Burwell, who appoints him as colonel to raise a militia unit and places Gabriel under his father's command. Benjamin is tasked with weakening Lord Cornwallis' regiments by guerrilla warfare. French Major Jean Villeneuve helps train the militia and promises more French aid. Gabriel asks his father why Villeneuve and other militia often mention Fort Wilderness, and Benjamin tells him that while fighting in the British Army, Benjamin and his men discovered atrocities against British colonists by French soldiers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Enraged, they caught up with the retreating French at Fort Wilderness and mercilessly slaughtered all but two of them. The two survivors had to present the severed heads of their comrades to the Cherokee, which convinced the tribe to betray the French. Though regarded as a hero, Benjamin never forgave himself.
Benjamin's militia ambushes many British patrols and supply caravans, including some of Cornwallis' personal effects and his two Great Danes, and burns bridges and ferries that Cornwallis needs. After Benjamin uses a ruse de guerre to free his captured men, Cornwallis allows Tavington to do everything possible to arrest him.
With the aid of Wilkins, a local Loyalist, Tavington has several militiamen's homes burned and their families executed. Benjamin's family flees Charlotte's plantation to live in a Gullah settlement with formerly enslaved residents. There, Gabriel marries his betrothed, Anne. Tavington's brigade raids Anne's town and assembles everyone in the church, including Anne; knowing that they are secretly aiding the militia, he demands the location of their camp. Despite one townsperson giving it away, Tavington burns the church, killing everyone inside. Upon discovering the tragedy, Gabriel and several other soldiers attack Tavington's encampment, where Tavington kills Gabriel before fleeing. Benjamin contemplates desertion, but after seeing the American flag Gabriel repaired, he is reminded of his son's patriotic dedication and decides to rejoin the others.
Benjamin devises a battlefield tactic that uses Cornwallis' pride against him. Benjamin's militia joins the Continental Army regiment and confronts Cornwallis' troops in a climactic battle. Benjamin and Tavington engage in personal combat. Tavington wounds Benjamin and prepares to deliver the coup de grâce, but Benjamin dodges the attack and impales Tavington, killing him. The battle becomes a Continental victory, and Cornwallis retreats.
Cornwallis is besieged at Yorktown, where his subordinate surrenders to the American and French forces. Afterwards, Benjamin returns to his family and discovers that his former militia is rebuilding his homestead in honor of Gabriel's dream of building a new world.
Doors open @ 6:00pm | Film @ 6:30 pm | Free to the Community | Concession items $1
