Four feathers (film, 2002)

Harry Feversham ( Heath Ledger ), a young British Royal Army infantry regiment officer, celebrates his engagement with his beloved girlfriend Ethney ( Kate Hudson ), surrounded by fellow soldiers and with his father, also an officer in the British army. After the announcement of sending the regiment to Sudan, a British colony in a state of civil war, to help General Charles George Gordon , who was besieged in Khartoum by Islamic rebels led by Mahdi ), the young man is so shocked by the news that he immediately resigns, as She doesn’t want to fight with anyone. However, the father, shocked by the decision of his son and immediately renouncing him, and his friends accept his resignation as cowardice and send him three feathers (a symbol of cowardice). The fourth feather in the letter is put by the bride of Harry Ethney.

Exhausted and lonely, the only one left in London, Harry discovers that his best friend Jack ( Wes Bentley ) and their entire regiment were subjected to a devastating attack by the rebels. He decides to go to Sudan. Having hardly reached the quarters of the British army, Harry disguised himself as an Arab, recording himself as a porter in a friends regiment. The rest of the porters take him for a spy, Mahdi, about which he is warned by Abu Fatma ( Jimon Khonsu ), a shrewd mercenary who once served with the British troops and knows English. Harry, convincing Abu that he is not a spy, begins to monitor a group of army workers who are most likely really Mahdi spies. Having reached the shelter of the rebels, Harry can no longer leave them and warn the regiment. Abu sets off alone, about to warn Harry's friends of an imminent attack. Harry receives a red military uniform from the rebels. Meanwhile, the regiment stops to bury a group of British officers killed by the Mahdi people. Abu was captured by Egyptian soldiers and extradited to British officers (friends of Feversham). He tells the British that he was sent by a British officer, referring to Feversham, to warn them of the Mahdi attack. He also says that Muslims always bury their dead and even enemies, that these bodies were left specially to distract the British. Feversham's comrades are thrilled, but in the end decide to ignore Abu's warning. He is sentenced to whipping.

Untrained British and Egyptians meet the enemy. The first in the battle, Mahdi sends unarmed people who, not resisting, give themselves to be shot. The British are puzzled; however, when they are attacked by arrows and cavalry, they are rebuilt in a square and repel the attack. After that, they see a detachment (supposedly reinforcements) on the horizon in red uniforms. Having bought into the deceitful maneuver of the rebels, the officers fall into the trap. Harry, who is in the ranks of disguised rebels, jumps from his horse, trying to cover Jack, whose rifle misfired and blinded him when fired. Hiding his friend, Harry accidentally finds letters from Etna in Jack's uniform, which cools his friendly feelings, he does not tell Jack who he is. Not knowing who his lifeguard was, Jack then returns home. He proposes to Etna, but she does not give him an answer, going for advice to Harry's father.

Another friend, Harry Tom ( Rupert Penry-Jones ), is returning to London. He tells Jack about the meeting with Harry in Sudan, that Harry was the officer who sent Abu, Harry accused his friends of prejudice, which entailed terrible losses. In addition, Harry asked Tom for money and explained that he believed that their friend William was alive. Leaving Abu, Harry sets off for the infamous Mahdi prison. Abu advises him not to do this, asking about the reasons for his actions, blaming the pride inherent in all British soldiers. Harry finds William ( Michael Sheen ), but does not know what to do next. Abu helps them escape, giving Harry the “poison” that created the appearance of death. However, the guards are suspicious of the death of two officers of the British army. Abu and Harry kill the pursuers together. After that, everyone goes their own way: Abu returns to the desert, Harry goes to England. His father's confidence has been returned to him, Etna asks to return her feather. Jack is overwhelmed by suspicions about the identity of his savior. He touches Harry's face with his hands as he bends down to pick up the papers that Jack had specially thrown off the table. Having identified his savior, Jack gives the blessing of Harry and Ethney. During the next meeting, Ethny and Harry, remembering the past, again hold hands.

• Khartoum (film)

• Four Feathers on the Internet Movie Database  
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• Four Feathers at Box Office Mojo