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War dramas often follow heroic soldiers as they march confidently into battle, determined to fight for what’s right. But the Civil War drama Freedom’s Path tells the story of a less-than-heroic soldier and his path to understanding the real meaning of the war he’s afraid to fight.
Freedom’s Path follows William (Gerran Howell) as he leaves home to fight with the Union Army. But when he faces his first battle—and loses his best friend—he runs away, wounded and bleeding, taking cover in the nearby forest. He’s rescued by a young man named Kitch (R. J. Cyler) and taken in by a free Black couple—and as he heals, William helps Kitch transport runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad. But when William crosses paths with a ruthless slave catcher named Silas (Ewen Bremner), they all end up in danger.
As this young runaway soldier joins Kitch on his missions, he learns so much about the war that he ran away to join. Though he can speak quite passionately about reuniting the Union, he doesn’t really understand the terrible reality of slavery until he sees the scars on his friend’s chest and hears the stories of life on a plantation. The men and women around him see him as a hero for fighting for them—and the more he gets to know these kind and open people, who risk their lives to free others, the more guilt he feels over his own cowardice.
Freedom’s Path isn’t just the same old Civil War movie. It isn’t about the fighting, and it doesn’t explore plantation life. Instead, it gives a more human perspective. William doesn’t just learn about slavery in an abstract way; he gets to know the men and women who have lived through it. He listens to them and sees their suffering. And through Kitch (and a strong, emotional performance by R. J. Cyler), he sees their strength and determination and learns to care about them as if they were his own family. Admittedly, it takes a while for this story to build—and it does feel somewhat melodramatic at times—but it all comes together to tell a moving story of friendship, redemption, and courage.
Though its runtime may be a little longer than necessary, Freedom’s Path takes a more intimate look at slavery, as seen through the eyes of a young White man who just didn’t really understand what he was fighting for. It’s a moving story that’s worth seeking out.
You can join William on his journey when Freedom’s Path arrives in theaters on September 8, 2023 and on demand on October 6th.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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