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Posse is a 1993 Western film, directed and written by Mario Van Peebles. The plot unfolds during the year 1898, when a group of African American soldiers, who served in the Spanish-American War, return home to face the harsh realities of racism and prejudice in the United States. The story revolves around a charismatic soldier named Jesse Lee (Mario Van Peebles), who leads his fellow soldiers from the mountains of Cuba to the small town of Freemanville, where they hope to reunite with their families and start a new life. But upon their arrival, they find that their homecoming is not welcomed by the white citizens, who view them as second-class citizens and are hostile towards their presence.

Jesse and his men find a sanctuary in a saloon run by Nerva (Tiny Lister), a former slave turned entrepreneur, who offers them refuge in exchange for their help defending the town from the corrupt Sheriff Bates (Stephen Baldwin) and his gang of henchmen, who are intent on plundering and exploiting the town’s resources.

As Jesse and his men settle into Freemanville, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, each with their own story to tell. There's Little J (Stephen J. Cannell), a former slave who dreams of becoming a businessman and finding love with a local widow, played by Pam Grier. There's also Father Time (Big Daddy Kane), a voodoo priest who offers spiritual guidance to the group, and Deputy Obobo (Charles Lane), a black sheriff who is torn between his duty to uphold the law and his loyalty to his fellow black soldiers.

Posse is a film that pulls no punches in its exploration of race relations in America during the late 19th century. It presents a brutal and unflinching commentary on the legacy of slavery, and shines a light on the injustices faced by black people on a daily basis. The film is a powerful statement on the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, and the importance of standing up for what is right, regardless of the consequences.

The film's director, Mario Van Peebles, delivers a strong performance as Jesse Lee, a charismatic and fearless leader who is both cunning and compassionate. His chemistry with the rest of the cast is palpable, and the group's camaraderie is a highlight of the film. The ensemble cast, which features performers like Stephen Baldwin, Pam Grier, and Big Daddy Kane, all deliver strong, nuanced performances that bring depth and dimension to their characters.

The film also features stunning cinematography, which captures the beauty and majesty of the American West in all its vastness. The action sequences are well-choreographed and thrilling, while the quieter moments are imbued with a sense of introspection that gives the film a depth and richness that is often absent from traditional Westerns.

Overall, Posse is a film that defies easy categorization. It is a Western, but it is also a social commentary on race relations, a character study of a group of soldiers, and a love story. Its genre-bending approach to storytelling is refreshing, and its themes are both poignant and urgent. It is a film that deserves to be remembered as a classic of the genre, and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.

Posse is a 1993 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.5 and a MetaScore of 56.