The Arizona film tax credit initiative is currently facing a legal challenge questioning its constitutionality, as reported recently. Despite the ongoing dispute, the program has approved nearly $1 million in credits for various film projects, with additional millions pending approval.
One of the productions benefiting from this program is an independent film centered on the westernmost Civil War skirmish at Picacho Peak.
Filmed in Arizona’s Sonoran desert, “The War Between” explores the narrative of soldiers from opposing sides during the Civil War. Director Deborah Correa highlights that while the backdrop is historical, the narrative diverges into a fictional tale of endurance and deeper themes of peace and humanity.
“And because it was such a uniquely Arizona story,” Correa said, “and the fact that we could shoot where the battle took place at the base of Picacho Peak was such a huge draw for me as a director. The authenticity of that, it meant a lot and it meant a lot to the local crew and the local cast as well.”
Actor Sage Hemstreet from Glendale portrays a Navajo leader who aids soldiers from both factions. Hemstreet, who is of Navajo Laguna Pueblo descent, comments, “I think it really goes against some Western stereotypes that if you see a lot of Natives in Westerns, they’re always the bad guy. They always are the antagonist to the protagonist. They’re always trying to kill the main character. And you see her have empathy for this character, where you know she has the upper ground.”
After being screened at several festivals and theaters, the film is set to be available for streaming in November.
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