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WAR FILMS

By: Kenji


Come and See

Too many films, whether through nationalist fervour or inadvertently, glamourise, glorify and effectively promote war. I’ve included a few “Boys’ Own”’ type entertainments (e.g The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen), some which give mixed messages (eg The Deer Hunter) and some quite patriotic statements (e.g Alexander Nevsky), but hope this list does more to discourage than promote war. The White Balloon from Iran is not a war film but should serve as an antidote to current warmongers, just as some superb (indigenous) Vietnamese films should be required viewing for those who’ve preferred to dehumanise an enemy.

Along with a few films i’ve not seen (Battle of Chile, Steel Helmet, Danube Waves), I’ve also included the Cuban masterpiece Lucia, for the first part of the triptych, and almost hallucinatory scenes of lacerating angst and power (a precursor to the harrowing Come and See).

Not on this site:

The World at War

for some light relief, here’s the late Norman Wisdom.


The Square Peg

 

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Bleu Poster

13Dec11

I like how you included non-military war films (e.g. Au revoir les efants). To think that the civilian and military spheres of warfare are separate is to be anachronistic.

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spartacula

5Jun10

wonderful contribution... thanks.

Marjorie

1Jun10

I think you should update this list and add Wajda's "Katyn."

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Blue K, Custodian of the Cinema

7May10

Thank you, Sir Kenji. You deserve to be knighted for this!

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Skunk

Viniciu​s Noronha

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Fandori​n-san

oldfilm​sflicke​r

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Lexy