Originally a Southern event designated to honor
Confederate veterans of the Civil War, Memorial Day went on to become a
nationally recognized holiday in the United States, which now honors all
American veterans. While today the true meaning of the holiday is too often
lost amidst the barbeques, beach days, and block parties that it has since
become associated with, it remains at its heart a commemoration of the bravery
and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Below are three films that
celebrate and honor America’s men and women in arms and all that they stand
for.
| You say you want a revolution... |
The
Patriot: The best place to start with America’s military
history is at the beginning, and the 2000 historical war drama The Patriot does just that through its
wrenching tale of one man’s struggle to protect his family amidst the American
Revolution. The story begins with emotionally scarred French and Indian War
veteran Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) attempting to maintain neutrality in an
increasingly conflicted world. While his war-time trauma and the death of his
wife leave Benjamin determined that his family remain safely out of the bloody events
surrounding them, his pacifism places him in direct conflict with his
headstrong eldest son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger). Benjamin is eventually forced to
choose sides when Gabriel defies him by enlisting in the Continental Army and
is later arrested. The arrest sets off a brutal chain of events that ultimately
lead father and son on a quest for more than mere revenge as they devote
themselves to the colonies’ struggle for independence. Following in the
footsteps of Mel Gibson’s earlier hit, Braveheart,
the film portrays the harrowing reality of war and the heavy price paid by
those caught in the cross-fire. In this way, the film not only pays homage to
the courage of the Continental Army and its supporters, but also serves as an
apt tribute to the sacrifices that they made in their pursuit of freedom. Perhaps
the film’s greatest strength is its morally conflicted approach, which
emphasizes the plight of the colonies under British rule without glorifying the
gruesome reality of their fight for independence. While the film serves as much to entertain as
to educate it provides viewers with an introduction to the American Revolution
and brings the historical events it portrays to life with equal parts gritty
realism and emotional resonance. For a revolutionary way to honor Memorial Day
look no further than The Patriot.
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| It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight... |
Glory:
The
American Civil War is most often portrayed on-screen as the struggle between
north and south over the abolition of slavery. What such narratives all too
often fail to acknowledge, however, is the role that African-Americans played
in the fight for emancipation. The 1989 film Glory, presents a more complex portrayal of the Civil War from the
unique perspective of an all-black regiment and their abolitionist leader.
Inspired by a true story, the film follows the real life 54th
Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the Union Army’s first
all-black regiments, as they face adversity both on and off the battlefield.
The film begins with Boston abolitionist Captain Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew
Broderick) being promoted to the rank of colonel for valor at Antietam and receiving
orders to lead the 54th regiment. To the credit of the film’s
writers, the script approaches the characters as an ensemble cast, giving full
weight to the men who comprised the regiment rather than merely focusing upon
Shaw’s leadership. The film is made up of a variety of three-dimensional
performances rather than mere types, with standout performances from Matthew
Broderick as Shaw, Morgan Freeman as insightful John Rawlins, and Denzel
Washington as rebellious Silas Tripp. The film relates a more complicated tale
than most war movies as it portrays its heroes’ efforts to struggle against
racial discrimination in their own army in the midst of their larger battle
against the Confederacy. The film is made even more complex by its bittersweet
ending, as the majority of the regiment ultimately fall in the assault on Fort
Wagner even as their valor prompts the Union Army to accept the enlistment of
thousands of African-American soldiers. Through its engaging performances and
intelligent script the film offers more than a mere history lesson and serves
as a solemn tribute to the soldiers of the 54th regiment and those
who followed after them.
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| Some of the grittiest stuff this side of 1950 |
The
Best Years of Our Lives: While war dramas have graced cinema
screens since the silent era, few films capture struglle that soldiers continue
to face after the gunfire stops quite like The
Best Years of Our Lives. Released in the immediate wake of World War II, The Best Years of Our Lives stands out from
the plethora of war films released in its era for is stark portrayal of lingering
trauma. The film follows three soldiers as they return to civilian life in the
same Midwestern town while they continue to grapple with the traumas that they
have suffered. The script aptly portrays the ways in which the war impacted
people of all walks of life as middle-aged banker Al (Frederic March) returns
home to a family who no longer know him, ambitious Fred (Dana Andrews) wrestles
with both the plummeting job market and his broken marriage, and former high
school athlete Homer (Harold Russell) adjusts to life with a disability after
losing both hands in combat. The script approaches each of its characters and
their individual journeys with an essential sensitivity and subtlety that
provides apt insight into the trials of soldiers returning home not just from
World War II but from every war. The film particularly stands out for its
refusal to follow the propaganda film trends of its era in its focus upon the heavy
price of freedom rather than limiting itself to the Allied victory. For one of
the most emotionally resonant and honest film going experiences of your life
look no further than The Best Years of
Our Lives.
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