The General’s Daughter is a gripping thriller about a murdered army official. The victim is the general’s beautiful daughter who is fancied by another army official, Paul Brenner played by John Travolta who ironically also investigates the murder.
John Travolta is supported by another investigator played by Madeleine Stowe. The movie has this cheeky theme that it does not allow you to zero down to any suspects. The victim Captain Elisabeth Campbell(Leslie Stefanson) was a smart intelligent woman with a traumatic past. A past which affects her psyche and ultimately kills her.
She dies amidst bizarre circumstances. Found naked with her hands and legs tied with the autopsy showing no evidence of sexual assault. As the movie progresses the situation turns more baffling for the investigators.
The movie has some important underlying themes like the security of women in the armed forces and the jealousy of the male coworkers and the general intimidation felt by men towards smart accomplished women. Such a similar theme was also explored in another movie called’Courage Under Fire’.
The movie also highlights the ambitious father who sacrifices his daughter’s pride at the altar of position and power. The daughter’s frustration who survives the trauma of a gangrape by classmates but gets her conscience and identity scarred forever.
At the end of the story we are left with the question as to whether it is justified to hide cases of women’ misery in the army just for the sake of encouragement to prospective candidates.
Watch the movie and be your own judge.