The Four Feathers (2002)

The Four Feathers is a 2002 war drama film directed by Shekhar Kapur and starring Heath Ledger, Wes Bentley, Djimon Hounsou and Kate Hudson. Set during the British Army's Gordon Relief Expedition (late 1884 to early 1885) in Sudan, well after the formation of Mahdiyya, it tells the story of a young man accused of cowardice. This film, with altered plot events, is the latest in a long line of cinematic adaptations of the 1902 novel The Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason. Other versions of the story have been set in the 1890s, with different battle events. It was roughly based on the White Feather Campaign during World War I. The Four Feathers was released on 20 September 2002 by Paramount Pictures in the United States and by Miramax International in international markets. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $29 million against a $35 million budget.