Free State of Jones 2016

In October 1862, amidst the backdrop of Jones County, Mississippi, the Confederate soldiers are rallying for the impending Battle of Corinth. A confronting struggle begins as they face the Union army, igniting a conflict that results in intense bloodshed. Among the Confederate ranks is medic Newton Knight, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, who tirelessly carries the wounded to safety while tending to their injuries. This grim exposure to war has left Newton deeply disillusioned by the brutality he witnesses.

As the fight rages on, Newton discovers an unsettling truth: owners of over 20 slaves are exempt from fighting, leading him to question the moral validity of the war he’s enduring on behalf of those who are comfortably at home. One evening, a distraught teenage farm boy named Daniel (Jacob Lofland) seeks him out, revealing that his family’s possessions have been seized, and he has been forced into service. Newton provides comfort to the young boy, showcasing his compassion amidst the chaos.

The next day, as they fight side by side, tragedy strikes when Daniel is shot. Newton, desperate to save him, carries him away in a futile attempt to reassure him, but sadly, Daniel passes away. After this heart-wrenching experience, Newton returns home to his wife Serena (Keri Russell), sharing his growing frustrations about the conflict. Unfortunately, he soon learns about another family facing the confiscation of their assets by Confederate troops. Meanwhile, his own infant son is ill, prompting him to seek medical assistance at a local road house. There, Aunt Sally (Jill Jane Clements) directs him to Rachel (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), a slave who helps nurse the child back to health.

Fast forward 85 years to 1947, where Newton’s great-grandson, Davis (Brian Lee Franklin) faces a trial. Davis’s mixed heritage, being 1/8th black due to Newton and Rachel’s union, puts him in legal jeopardy for marrying a white woman – a forbidden act of that era.

Amidst these events, Newton visits a family suffering under the oppressive weight of war, arming the mother and her daughters with rifles and teaching them to defend themselves. As Confederate officers arrive, they are met with resistance as Newton and the family stand united, rifles aimed at their oppressors. Soon after, Newton finds himself being hunted down by the Confederates, but with the aid of Aunt Sally, he narrowly escapes to a swamp where he encounters Moses Washington (Mahershala Ali) and a group of runaway slaves who offer him sanctuary and camaraderie.

As the narrative unfolds leading into July 1863, tensions mount with the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces, prompting more soldiers to desert the Confederate ranks. Newton and the runaways band together, forming a militia determined to resist their captors while creating a small community in the swamp, where they share resources and cultivate their own crops.

Their journey is riddled with conflict, as they face the threat of Confederate soldiers who resort to violent tactics like burning down barns and punishing deserters. After a harrowing series of events, Newton galvanizes his community to retaliate, leading to a significant confrontation that marks their resilience. As this militia grows in strength, they manage to overpower their former oppressors, ushering in a moment of victory and celebration as they raise the American flag in triumph.

By June 1865, as the war comes to a close, freedmen begin cultivating land for themselves, only to face new challenges as unfulfilled promises of land and resources arise. During this tumultuous time, relationships evolve—Serena reappears alongside Newton, and the couple welcomes a reunion that speaks to their resilience and enduring love.

Tragedy strikes again when Moses’s protests lead to his murder, underscoring the continued threats against their community. In a powerful climax, Newton courageously marches to the polls on Election Day, highlighting the stark realities of racial tensions during the tumultuous aftermath of the Civil War.

Davis’s case reaches a critical point, leading to legal battles and societal upheaval. Rachel, giving birth to Newton’s child, faces scrutiny that entwines their collective fate with the ongoing struggles for justice and equality, leading each character back to the themes of love, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

Ultimately, unable to marry Rachel due to the prevailing laws of the time, Newton deeds her 160 acres of land, securing her status as one of the few African-American women landowners, thus ensuring they can build a life together on that farm for years to come.