The New World: 1608

Captain John Smith (Colin Farrell), leader of the new Jamestown colony, struggles to establish the settlement in the New World. Facing certain starvation, Smith is aided by Pocahontas (Q-orianka Kilcher), a member of the Algonquians and the daughter of village chief Powhatan, who pleads with her father to spare his life and those of the settlers. Eventually Pocahantas is held hostage in the settlement, where she lives for a number of years . She marries John Rolfe who takes her to England, where she dies on the return voyage.

Black Robe: 1634

Set in the French colonies of North America, this film follows a young Jesuit priest, Father Laforgue (Lothaire Bluteau) as he journies to the Huron nation to re-establish a Jesuit mission. As much about the process of European conquest of native populations through religious intervention as it is about the struggles of indigenous natives to maintain their own culture and integrity, the film is a grand chronicle of life in the wilderness of the 17th century "new world".

The Scarlet Letter: 1666

Hester Pryne, a colonist from England, arrives in Massachusetts to establish a household for herself and her husband, who will follow later. She falls in love with the town preacher, Arthur Dimmesdale, and they secretly consummate their relationship when they hear her husband has been lost at sea. When her pregnancy is discovered, she is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her chest branding her as an adulterer. Despite severe pressure, she refuses to reveal the father of her child, Pearl. When her husband shows up, all hell breaks loose. Based on a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, the film has been adapted for film numerous times, with the most recent 1995 version starring Gary Oldman as Dimmesdale and Demi Moore as Prynne.

The Crucible: 1692

Based on Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible explores 17th century Salem during the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. Abigail Williams (Winona Ryder) falls in love with married man John Proctor (Daniel Day Lewis), and plots to remove his wife from the picture, accusing her of witchcraft. Paul Scofield gives a great performance as Judge Danforth during the trials themselves.

Eyes of Fire (Cry Blue Sky): 1750

This quirky film is one which you will either love or hate; embrace or snort at. During the French and Indian Wars a preacher, Will Smythe (Dennis Lipscomb), is driven from a village for adultery, along with his paramour and her strange, possibly autistic (but definitely psychic) daughter, Leah (Karlene Crockett). A small band of villagers follows along as Will leads them into the wilderness, where they attempt to establish a settlement in a valley inhabited by evil spirits — with predictable consequences.

Last of the Mohicans: 1757

Although there have been at least twelve adapations of James Fennimore Cooper’s book, Last of the Mohicans, Michael Mann’s 1992 production has probably stirred the most interest among contemporary viewers. Daniel Day Lewis stars as Hawkeye, a caucasian raised by Mohawks, who, along with his foster father and brother, are the last members of a dying Mohican Tribe in 18th century North America. During the battle between English and French for control of the colonies, Hawkeye and his tribesmen agree to help a British officer and two daughters of his colonel get through to a battle-torn fort. Cinematically rich, the characters, story, and costumes are also deeply engaging.

The Deerslayer: 1760s

Based on James Fennimore Cooper’s novel of the same name, Tom Hutter, a bigoted trapper, carries on a vendetta against the Hurons, pitting his life and livehood against the increasingly angry Indians. Living in the wilderness with his two daughters, Hutter attracks the assistance of Deerslayer and Chingachgook, a Mohican against the Hurons.

The Patriot: 1777

A former hero from the French and Indian Wars, Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is trying to establish a life for himself and his family in South Carolina. Unfortunately the American Revolution intervenes. Although he no longer wishes to fight, his oldest son (Heath Ledger) joins the army against his wishes, and he reluctantly becomes the leader in the Colonial Militia after British soldiers burn his house and kill one of his sons.