“True Women” (1997)

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21/03/2025

True Women (1997) is a historical drama miniseries based on Janice Woods Windle’s novel, which chronicles the lives of three women over five decades during pivotal moments in American history. Directed by Karen Arthur and starring Dana Delany, Annabeth Gish, and Angelina Jolie, the film explores themes of survival, love, friendship, and female resilience against the backdrop of significant historical events such as the Texas Revolution, Native American conflicts, the Civil War, and the early women’s suffrage movement.

The story begins with young Euphemia Ashby (played by Tina Majorino as a child and Annabeth Gish as an adult) being sent to live with her older sister Sarah McClure (Dana Delany) in Texas after her father’s death. Sarah is a strong-willed woman who leads a group of women and children to safety during Santa Anna’s invasion in the Texas Revolution. The narrative also follows Georgia Lawshe (played by Rachael Leigh Cook as a child and Angelina Jolie as an adult), Euphemia’s childhood friend from Georgia. Georgia discovers her mixed Native American heritage while navigating societal prejudice and personal struggles.

As time progresses, Euphemia and Georgia face numerous challenges that test their strength and convictions. Euphemia becomes an advocate for abolitionism while grappling with personal losses during the Civil War. Meanwhile, Georgia marries Dr. Peter Woods (Jeffrey Nordling) and moves to Texas but struggles with her role as a plantation owner amidst slavery and racial tensions. The two friends are eventually reunited after years apart but must reconcile their differing beliefs about slavery.

Sarah McClure emerges as a central figure throughout the film, embodying resilience as she faces personal tragedies like miscarriages, deaths of loved ones, Indian attacks, and widowhood. Despite these hardships, she remains steadfast in protecting her family and advocating for justice.

The film highlights not only the physical hardships endured by women on the frontier but also their emotional strength in overcoming societal constraints. It portrays their contributions to shaping history through courage and determination while addressing issues such as racism, sexism, slavery, war trauma, and women’s rights.

True Women combines elements of Westerns with feminist undertones to present a sweeping saga about grit and endurance. While it has been praised for its performances—particularly those of Dana Delany and Angelina Jolie—it has also been critiqued for its melodramatic tone at times.

“True Women” (1997)

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