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Please take me off the list. It has filled my in-box. Thank you Fadia Faqir Phyllis Jestice wrote: > "Summersby" is actually a thinly modernized retelling of "The Return of > Martin Guerre"---a true story of stolen identity from ealry modern France. > Natalie Zemon Davis did a study of the case, and there's a great movie > version of it. There is absolutely no religious subtext that I've ever > been able to see in the original---is it as clear as Shan suggests in the > modern retelling? > > And to be horribly prosaic: whatever the law was in the nineteenth-century > U.S., it was certainly a capital crime in the sixteenth century to steal > somebody's land and wife. > > Phyllis > > >There was a marvellous film about a man who returns from the Civil War (USA) > >to his aristocratic wife and then with her, rejuvenates the failing fortunes > >of the estate, including the ordinary working people. Poignant footage > >displays their struggle to save the harvest etc. > >He is then exposed as an impostor and not her husband at all. A court case > >ensues and for some reson I can't remember, he is executed. > >The story is clearly an analogue of the Sacrificial God who is chosen by the > >Goddess to revive her and the Land (in the film the wife knows he is not her > >returned husband but chooses to let him stay as if he were). His death is > >clearly marked as the sacrifice of a blameless male for the good of the > >community. > > > >Sorry I can't remember the name. I'm sure someone else will. > > > >Shan Jayran > >Associate Lecturer, University College Chichester > >Ovular - online education > > > >ONLINE EVENTS NOTICEBOARD RELIGION & GENDER > >www.ovular.co.uk/events.html > >RELIGION & GENDER ONLINE FEB 15 -MAR 29 > >www.ovular.co.uk/relgender/relgender/wworlds.html > > Dr. Phyllis G. Jestice > [log in to unmask]