"Saints and Soldiers" (2003) - Movie Review

This is the time wherein enough war movies have been shot. World War – I, World War – II, Vietnam War have been continuously used to properly and quite knowledgably share their views on war. So when I start to watch “Saints and Soldiers”, it is known that sacrifices will be made, excruciating pains will be tolerated, humanisms will be found and of course the brotherhood among the soldiers will be explored. And quit frankly, it comes out flourishing with ideas and concepts that in fact not being properly addressed in lot other World War – II movies.

The film is based on actual events. It starts with the bloody massacre of Malmedy. From that escapes four soldiers Corporal Nathan “Deacon” Greer (Corbin Allred) a sharp shooter, Steven Gould (Alexander Polinsky) who is a Medic, Private Shirl Kendrick (Lawrence Bagby) who is eager for action and also for a smoke, Sergeant Gunderson (Peter Holden) who immediately suits on the leadership role to guide these men. They are behind enemy lines, with one rifle and nothing as that of supporting equipments, gears or food to survive. While they are fighting hard to survive by stealth and secrecy, they encounter the Flight Sergeant Oberon Winley (Kirby Heyborne) who claims to have intelligence which would saves lives of lot many soldiers of alliance. So they get a mission to safely make him to the command post.

This is the typical plot point for a war movie. But this is not a war movie. This is movie with a back ground of war zone. The script is written as such to make us love these characters. The small tussle over a cigarette between Kendrick and Winley, the serious discussions and difference of opinion in between Gould and Deacon and finally the strong and supporting character of Gunderson who comes to rescue Deacon as his leader in every moment of time. Deacon is fighting his own war inside for forgiveness. Being the right guy is the hard thing, but living after doing a mistake out of his unawareness is even harder and consistently bitter. It is harder because they start to hate themselves. They feel their judgments and beliefs go out of the door as soon as they feel the foot has stepped in the dirt. Deacon while in the process of forgiving himself for his accidents is still responsible, alert and terrifically the proper idealist the crew could have. Gould on the other hand is the Medic with hatred towards the Germans. It seems normal to have an opinion like that in a war against them. It is more than normal; it is in every one’s blood. And seeing Deacon’s view towards describing them as the same men with different uniforms irritates him. This tension and arguments between these form the crux.

It might be looked upon as a pretty old concept which every movie has touched upon. In my opinion, anything which puts forward the concept of understanding other human beings to have harmony is a concept that needs to be touched upon several times. And with very conservative and closed environment on those days of World War – II, these kinds of thoughts would have been punished and kicked upon. To meet a man like Deacon on the front line is the rarest opportunity any one would get. Gould does not realize it or may be he is in denial. Apart from that, they discuss death and that scene marks the spark. There is a difference of opinion there when one says that there is nothing after death and the other saying there is something better after death, but both wish they believe the other with the events they describe happened to them. There both realize that there is a common point in between them which is sensitive. For some reason Gould and Deacon do not want to understand each other. Deacon tries in the given events, but Gould does not care. This similar situation can happen in real life with so much hatred flowing around in any one and every one.

Director Ryan Little handled the camera as well with the authentic parchment tone to give the feel of antiquity but the modern tinge of colour to settle for the right balance. The film was made under a million dollars which as many say is a surprising fact for making a war movie. But if it is been observed closer, the movie is not a war movie but more of a drama. This is the coverage of these men getting to know each other in an environment of death, injury and suffering. And yes, it is the best place to know each other well. You need some one right beside when things are horrific and terrifying. It is a drama movie and for that we can even say under million dollars is costly. Honestly, it does not matter, if it is a good movie, the crew is content and they get the result from the audience, then that’s all it matters.