One Man's Hero(1999)- User Reviews

Most Americans - or at least most of the non-Latino population of America - are ignorant of the history of Mexican-American relations. "One Man's Hero" depicts a time in the 1850s when Mexico and the United States were at war - and hundreds of American soldiers - Catholic,and mostly Irish - deserted from the U.S. Army to join the Mexican Army. There they were formed into a Regiment of Artillery - known as "The San Patricios" - and earned a reputation as one of the bravest and most distinguished units in the Mexican Army.

The film traces the path of an Irish-American Sergeant, played by Tom Berenger, who becomes the Regimental Commander of the San Patricios.

At the end of the war the surviving San Patricios were tried as deserters and traitors by the U.S. Army. Those who weren't executed were maimed as punishment.

To a military history buff, the movie accurately depicts the conditions in the U.S. Army at the time. The weapons and uniforms are correct, and battle scenes - while somewhat "low-budget", are realistic. The major events are depicted as recorded in current history books.

There is a love story superimposed on the historical narrative which is an overplayed distraction from the central drama - but the film is still well worth watching for an understanding of the complexity of the historical relationship between Mexico and the United States.

Today the San Patricios are still remembered as heros in Mexico - with monuments and commemorative celebrations. In recent years they have also been remembered in annual ceremonies in Ireland!