Poetic Television/Film Review: Culloden (1964)

On Culloden's moor, where battle's scar remains,
A tale of strife and bloodshed still sustains,
The Jacobite uprising, a story to be told,
Of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and a dynasty to unfold.

With Peter Watkins' lens, the past comes alive,
A quasi-documentary style, the narrative to thrive,
Omniscient voiceover guides us through the fray,
As historical figures speak, in a bygone day.

The battle rages on, with intensity and might,
Non-professional actors bring authenticity to sight,
No studio sets or glamour, just the harsh reality,
Of 18th-century life, with all its brutality.

Watkins' unromantic view of history takes its stand,
No nationalist glorification, just a tragic event to expand,
Fratricide and tribal loyalties, not ideology or creed,
Compelled men to fight, with feudal obligations' heavy deed.

The film's modest budget belies its visual impact grand,
Limited extras and one cannon cannot detract from the land,
Intensity and realism reign supreme in black-and-white hue,
Violence depicted starkly, yet evading censorship anew.

The aftermath unfolds with ruthless pursuit and merciless might,
British troops attacking fleeing Jacobites into the mountains' night,
Women and men alike fall prey to war's brutal sway,

Watkins' leftist and pacifist ideologies shine through his art divine
In Culloden's depiction of war as grim as can be defined
Later works like War Game would follow this theme so bold
Exploring nuclear conflict in a world grown cold

Culloden stands as testament to skillful filmmaking craft
With limited resources but abundant creativity it does enact
Historical epic within brief runtime mirroring that fateful day
Classic television docudrama forever etched in history's page.

(Note: The review in its original form can be read here.)

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