I watched the Free State of Jones at the cinema when it came out and I thought it was a little bloated and overlong.... that said, I am also British and a Penguin, so I'm sure there was plenty in the film that passed me by without me really noticing. This article is great and very well written but I'm not sure I understand the full history and Geography of California in the way a native would. Send me in the direction of required reading and I'll go and do some now :o)