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Writers have often used the idea of a journey to tell a story. I imagine it was an old device even when Homer used it in The Odyssey. Cold Mountain is another retelling of the story of a man journeying back through tribulations to the woman he loves.

Cold Mountain is the story of Inman (a Confederate deserter) and Ada, whom he has briefly courted and who has vowed to wait for him. He's been away three years before he leaves the war behind him to go back to her.

Actually the story is of two journeys, Inman's several hundred mile trek from the coast to the Blue Ridge mountains, and Ada's more personal journey of learning how to survive and do things that actually accomplish something.

Ada has grown up as a minister's daughter and has no skills other than social. In the turmoil of the war, with all the able-bodied men away fighting, she is left to try to run a farm, but has no idea of how to do it. She is rescued by Ruby, a young uncultured mountain woman, who joins with Ada, not as an employee, but as a partner. Together they strive to overcome the trials of survival at home. (Ruby has a bit of her own journey from being abused to being able to love.)

The film has a very dark view of war. When the war finally begins, news comes during a worship service. Slowly the men all go outside where they whoop and holler the excitement that "we have our war."

The film shows the carnage of a major battle, including piles of bodies. It shows the inhumanity of some troops (a band of Yankees leave a baby out in the cold to get its mother to tell them where the food is, and then attempt to rape her.) It shows the devastation of homes and communities when all the men are away, and the knowledge that many will not be coming home.

Ruby at one point talks about men and war by saying (I paraphrase), "They say this war is a cloud on the land. The men make the weather, and then when it starts raining they stand out in it and complain that they're getting wet." It is clear that the story is telling us that war is not the glorious endeavor that it is often thought to be.

The film flashes back and forth between the two stories, but it ends up a bit uneven. I was much more interested in the women's story than Inman's journey. We were able to see Ada and Ruby grow through the trials they faced. As they grew more confident in themselves, they also took care of others, and in that caring they grew even more. To watch them learn and grow and extend themselves is the best part of this movie. Their will to survive and maintain their humanity and their sense of womanhood is well and powerfully told.

Inman's story is not as well told. He too faces trials and dangers along the long road back. As a deserter he can be shot on the spot. He has to find food and lodging and even at times medical care. He manages to survive the trip back to Ada, but we don't get to see any growth in him as we do in Ada and Ruby. He goes on with determination, but the only change that seems to take place in him is an increase in bitterness and cynicism.

The physical journey that Inman endures doesn't bring near the enlightenment to him or the audience as Ada's inward journey

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