QWhat is 'Cold Mountain' about?
AWounded Confederate soldier W.P. Inman (Jude Law) deserts the army and struggles to return to Cold Mountain, North Carolina and to Ada Monroe (Nicole Kidman), the southern belle who promised to wait for him. Meanwhile, Ada's father (Donald Sutherland) has died, leaving Ada, who has no skills other than looking pretty and playing piano, to manage her father's failing farm by herself, grasping only at the hope that Inman will someday come back to her. In order to survive, Ada pairs up with feisty drifter Ruby Thewes (Renée Zellweger), who happens to be adept at survival and who helps Ada keep the place from falling into the hands of Captain Teague (Ray Winstone), leader of the local Home Guard, a group of vigilantes who hunt and kill deserters and anyone they think might be helping them.
QDid Brendan Gleeson do his own fiddle-playing?
AYes. Brendan Gleeson, who plays Ruby's father Stobrod, is an accomplished fiddle player. He is credited with performing three fiddletunes in the movie: Bonaparte's Retreat, Ruby with the Eyes that Sparkle, and Sittin' on Top of the World. Incidentally, Jack White, who plays the mandolin as Georgia, is also an accomplished musician, playing guitar and singing vocals with two different bands, The White Stripes and The Raconteurs. White is also credited with performing three songs in the movie: Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over, Wayfaring Stranger, and Great High Mountain.
QWhy is Ruby crying when Inman and Ada have their night together?
AOne possibility is that Ruby was jealous, but most viewers of the movie don't see it that way. Most feel that Ruby was genuinely happy that Ada and Inman had found each other again, which is why she vacated her bed and went to sleep in the room with her father. At the same time, however, she was no doubt worried about what would become of her future at Black Cove, her first real home. Most likely, she was simply afraid of losing all that she's hoped, planned, and worked for with the farm now that Inman had returned.
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