
Directed by Anthony Minghella (THE ENGLISH PATIENT) this Civil War saga addresses romance friendship & the ravages of war--both in the field & on the home front Far more than a simple love story Minghella&s film captures the horrors of war for both those fighting it & for those left behind Based on the Charles Frazier novel this is a tale of hope longing redemption second chances & faith Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman) is a proper lady who accompanies her preacher father (Donald Sutherland) to Cold Mountain North Carolina She waits for her love WP Inman (Jude Law)--a sensitive man of few words--to return from war In the process she learns basic survival skills & finds strength from no-nonsense Ruby (Renee Zellweger) a spitfire who can work the land as well as any man Meanwhile wounded Inman has had enough of war & killing & is slowly working his way back to Ada despite the perils of being a Confederate deserter Law & Kidman are genuinely touching as two virtual strangers who invest all of their faith in each other & Zellweger is astounding as the uncultured but compassionate Ruby Rounding out the cast is an impressive array of actors including Brendan Gleeson Ray Winstone Philip Seymour Hoffman Natalie Portman Jack White (of the White Stripes) Kathy Baker Giovanni Ribisi & many others