Art shapes culture. Powerful, magnificent films with fine acting and exciting plot lines are one of the best ways to inspire patriotism once again in the younger generation of Americans.
Last night, I went to see the film Young Washington, which looks at a few events in the childhood of George Washington but primarily features his first experiences as a surveyor and then a soldier in the French and Indian War. There are definitely a few liberties with the history — such as the native chief accusing the French of cannibalism, of which I cannot as yet find evidence — but overall it tried to portray both Washington’s life and the larger historical context accurately.Since it was an Angel Studios film, there was no obnoxiously overt woke preaching in it. When such messages arose naturally from the scenes and circumstances in the movie, there were brief looks at the issues of slavery, racism, and dispossession of native tribes, but Washington himself repeatedly pondered these issues and described his struggles with them also during his life. I was particularly glad to note that just before the end of the movie, they portrayed the Indian prophecy of Washington’s future greatness, which did occur and was the first time a warrior recognized that extraordinary and apparently divine protection saving Washington from injury in battle, despite his extreme daring.
It has long been a source of chagrin to me that there was no truly excellent film prominently or primarily featuring George Washington. There is the masterpiece Lincoln, the entertaining musical 1776, the John Adams miniseries, The Patriot, and other films or stage shows. The Crossing was not a bad movie, but there was definitely woke revisionism in it that I find disappointing and problematic.
So I was pleased to note how Young Washington brought together multiple very talented veteran actors — Andy Serkis, Kelsey Grammer, Ben Kingsley, and Mary-Louise Parker — along with gorgeous cinematography and well-executed battle scenes. William Franklyn-Miller, the young man who played George Washington, did quite well in the role and captured the blend of passion, daring, anxiety, ambition, inexperience, and courage that we see exemplified in the early life of the most indispensable Founding Father.
Not least of Franklyn-Miller’s appeal is his believability as an officer on the battlefield. The scene portraying how the French and Indians shot his horses and his clothing multiple times without once harming him, even as Washington continually rushed straight at the enemy with reckless bravery, was a marvelous climax to the movie.
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But since you can read more thorough movie reviews elsewhere, I will return to my main point, which is the importance of having inspiring and entertaining patriotic films to show to young people. It is true that Young Washington is not a blockbuster in the way that The Patriot was, nor did it attract quite the level of crowds that we might wish, but I think it is precisely the sort of film that can be an enduring classic parents and teachers can show to young people for years to come.
Most young people now do not read, and the majority of them are very ignorant of our history. Nor will most teenagers be interested in watching official documentaries from sources such as the History Channel. Young Washington, because it is a coming-of-age tale with a great deal of action and warfare, could be more appealing to young people, especially boys, than a straight documentary would be. And while the famed actors who starred in it might not be the most popular celebrities among teenagers and young adults, Grammer was a successful TV star, and Andy Serkis is an idol of all Lord of the Rings fans.
In short, it is encouraging to see that it is still possible to produce a very interesting and exciting historical film, encouraging admiration of an American hero in 2026, even as most of Hollywood has turned anti-American. If you have children or grandchildren or young friends, please urge them to go see Young Washington in theaters. It’s just the sort of entertainment they need this America 250 year.
