The Character of Mad was phenomenal ~

~ and I can't believe that people here are complaining about the length of her monologue ~ that is sooooo sexist and racist!

One of the BEST elements of this film is that it makes room for exploring the subjective experiences of women in wartime.

When have you EVER seen a movie where a woman slave so comprehensively expresses her hopes and dreams and anguish? In this case, she's doing so to comfort the younger sister, to show not only empathy but rescue: Mad killed the girl's rapist, her monster!

Mad was also amazing in that she so generously exulted in making a Resurrection soup for the girl after she revived and came back from a semi-coma state.

Mad also allowed her Lover to resurrect in her heart after Augusta accidentally killed him: she took his spirit straight into the fray to hunt for the Union soldier. Of course the likelihood that she was probably feeling suicidal after losing him added to that.

Her awareness that his Spirit had flown on to a different Afterlife than that of the soldiers also displayed wisdom.

A phenomenal character, wonderfully portrayed.