Mary Silliman's War: A unique award-winning film on the American Revolution, revealed as the nation's first civil war. Received excellent reviews by top historians, major film awards.

REVIEWS

NATIONAL BROADCAST

	THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES:
		"This beautifully filmed and historically accurate film Is a wrenching tale of war through the eyes of one woman."

	SEATTLE INTELLIGENCER:
		"The Revolutionary War is rarely fodder for film... 'Mary Silliman's War', a personal film that shows how to connect with the Revolution, corrects that mistake tonight at 9:00 p.m."

	TV GUIDE (NATIONAL REVIEW):
		" 'Mary Silliman's War' quietly yet powerfully addresses such issues as Women's roles and the ambiguities of war."

	LOS ANGELES TIMES:
		"The authenticity shows in the gorgeous misty shots of the town, riverside and country, and portrait-come-to-life images of townspeople. It also shows in the faithful recreation of 18th century buildings, furniture, music and customs."

	DAILY VARIETY:
		"An uncommon glance at American Revolutionary War history is intelligently and flavorfully recreated in this absorbing story of a Connecticut wife and mother..."

	MILWAUKEE JOURNAL:
		"This fact-based drama set in the American Revolution is a jewel."

REVIEWS IN ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

	From BOOKLIST, "BEST OF"... "Ages 16 - Adult ... Based on Joy Day Buel and Richard Buel Jr.'s biography The Way of Duty (Norton. 1984), this impressive production dramatizes the moral dilemmas faced by a young mother whose husband, Selleck, is kidnapped by Tories from their Connecticut home during the War of Independence... The scripting and characterization effectively lend insight into various social classes and their ways, from farm-hands to judges. The location filming, done in Nova Scotia, sets the drama against scenic seascapes and fields of corn; the authentic interiors, furnishings and costumes give a fine sense of eighteenth-century life. This well portrayed production compellingly relates a personal story in a vivid, historical context."
		Nancy McCray

	From WILLIAM AND MARY QUARTERLY... "(The filmmakers) peruse the story with imagination and skill... casting is excellent (and) the sets and costumes are impressive and appropriate... An impressive list of consultants, headed by author Richard Buel, Jr., attests to the producers concern for historical accuracy. The film both educates and entertains, a goal many filmmakers seek but do not attain. The image of a patriot family sitting at the same table with their white servant and two black slaves, for example, may startle some viewers, especially when they learn that the slaves are forced to sit in a segregated section of the church. But such were the complexities of the Revolution. Along with the Buel's book, this film should establish Mary Silliman as one of the most remarkable women of the Revolutionary age."
		Virginia K. Bartlett, Irving H. Bartlett, WGBH Boston

	From PERSPECTIVES, the newsletter of the American Historical Association... "As both history and drama, MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR works, satisfying many of the potentially conflicting goals of filmmakers and historians. From the outset, the visual and dramatic quality of the film is impressive. Shot on location in Nova Scotia, the film offers a convincing portrayal of late-eighteenth century Connecticut... ... The film also offers a remarkably persuasive - and long overdue - representation of the civilian experience of the Revolutionary War... Intended for senior high, college and adult audiences, the film offers an intriguing and accessible text for discussion... ... (It) demonstrates that history, carefully reconstructed on film, can be both dramatically moving and instructive."
		Sarah F. McMahon, Bowdoin University, History Department

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE IN HIGH SCHOOLS

MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR has proven to work extremely well in High Schools, for juniors and seniors.

	"I would like to express my appreciation for the fine job you have done in the production of MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR... the historical accuracy, the depth of the story, and the quality of the production make for an excellent teaching opportunity..."
		Michael D. Bergquist, Robert S. Alexander High Douglasville, Georgia

	""MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR is the best film I've found to teach my students about the Revolutionary War... (they) really respond to the moral and political dilemmas that drive the high drama of the story... I will recommend it 100%..."
		Sarah Lytle, Fuller Middle School Farmingham, Massachusetts

	"This was a refreshing and unique perspective, to see how the Revolution was fought on the grass roots level... in little communities everywhere, as well as in great pitched battles... how the colonists fought among themselves about the meaning of the Revolution... (and) how virtually everyone was engulfed in this great social and political crisis which changed their lives forever..."
		Mary Jo O'Fallon, Cottage Grove High School Cottage Grove, Oregon

	"MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR is one of the best audiovisual tools I've found in 27 years of teaching History... yet the best part of using (the film) is the discussion my students and I have afterwards. My students picked up quickly on the major themes of the film -- the civil war character of the American Revolution, in the way it divided families and friends, the suffering and sacrifices of non-combatants, the significant role that religion played in Mary's life -- all these came out in discussion..."
		Paul Hershaw, Dr. Phillips High School Orlando, Florida

	"MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR has become an integral part of my U.S. History to 1945 class... Perhaps the most useful aspect of the film is how very emotionally affective it is... The students empathized strongly with the characters, and cheered the triumph in the end. But the real value came when the film was over. The dialogue from my students over Mary's dilemma was priceless. the film does a great job of keeping students highly interested and making them think about critical social and political issues of the Revolutionary period. (MSW) is one of the best historical films I've seen..."
		Vincent McGowan, David Briearly High School Kenilworth, New Jersey

	"MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR provided my U.S. History students with a vivid and striking picture of daily life in 18th century New England: homes, farms, childrearing, even the everyday business of the town were presented so clearly... (the film) is an excellent way to teach or review the colonial period as well as the war for Independence... ... In addition, the film tells a story that is universal as well as historically accurate... (it) provides an unusual opportunity to lead students toward broader understandings that are at the heart of the social studies curriculum, by stimulating the discussion of important concepts and values... such as the moral and religious conflict over the use of violence... or the conflict between political idealism and personal loyalty to one's friends and neighbors..."
		Heather Brinton, Mark Sheehan High School Wallingford, Connecticut

	"MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR is a tremendous teaching tool, and will be valued for a long time to come... I sincerely hope to show it most times in its entirety, in that it is a beautifully crafted and well-paced film. Many of the scenes, however, provide striking and memorable images that could be used on their own to emphasize particular themes... (and) could effectively be used as clips for that purpose."
		Robert J. Naeher, Emma Willard School Troy, New York

	"We've shown MARY SILLIMAN'S WAR to juniors in U.S. History classes with excellent results... (the film) helps students understand many aspects of the period that are often left unclear or omitted entirely... ... Excellent analytic discussions and written assignments naturally follow this terrific period film!"
		Claudia Johnstone, Punahou School Honolulu, Hawaii

	"What I love about the film is how it connects the historical and the human, and for my students that is all the difference... (they) gain an appreciation for the political struggles, and an empathy for the men and women involved... the movie is a great resource for U.S. History..."
		Scott Peeler, Mercersburg Academy Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

ADDITIONAL REVIEWS

	"(It) is superb in every way -- visually, dramatically and historically. From the opening suspenseful moment, my attention was captured..."
		Patricia Bonomi, Professor of History, New York University

	"Every effort (in film) I have seen on the Revolution has been, in my judgement, a sad failure, and I had come to believe that the historical, artistic and dramatic problems were probably too great to overcome. But you and your companies have vanquished these doubts. this is a marvelous piece of work..."
		John Shy, Professor of History, The University of Michigan

	"By a very wide margin, it is the most compelling film or play ever produced about the American Revolution."
		John M. Murrin, Professor of History, Princeton University

AWARDS

	Gold Medal, Houston International Film Festival, in the category of Best Dramatic TV Special. Silver Apple, National Educational Film Festival, in the category of History. Best Educational Production, the 10th Annual TV Movie Awards Bronze Plaque, Columbus Film Festival CINE Golden Eagle