Presentaton of the Bridge on the River Kwai - Movie Review Example

?Full A power That Kills The Bridge on the River Kwai is a presentation of the madness of war and the paradoxes of the principles of men. It is about how prisoners of war fight to maintain their pride and humane value. The movie circles around the story of how the men in power fight for their rights and how they get what they want and become heroes to their people. Their philosophies and principles present goodness to those who watch them because their cause is for the common good but in the end they are always found tempted with the lures of their ego. This therefore presents the problem not only in the movie but in real life situations, not just in war but also in daily dealings. The story speaks about living in dignity, being civilized and treating others in a human manner regardless of their condition and status in life. However, it also speaks about the realities of the possibilities that the good motives of dignified men, trained and educated to do service to other people, may well be mixed with personal intentions and objectives that is, to satisfy one’s ego and desires by being known throughout the world for ages because of their achievements. Colonel Nicholson presents a confusing character. He was stubborn in demanding his rights and for a viewer, it would be hard to understand why he would allow himself to suffer rather than just obey orders and be treated well. He is also an interesting character who stirs curiosity from the audience. The initial reasoning of the British colonel is highly commendable. He thought about the good of his officers, fighting for their rights. It is highly appreciated for an officer to keep to the rules and regulations even in the face of death. In defending his and the rights of his officers, colonel Nicholson endangered his life as well as his officers. Still, wanting to show his men the principles that he clings to, he defied the Japanese commander. When he was punished, caged in a box like an animal, he did not allow his situation to limit or even depreciate his beliefs rather he stood his ground that the British officers will have no part in the manual labor demanded by the Japanese as stated in the international law. This showed cultural issues, with the British showing diplomacy and the Japanese showing barbaric disciplines. In the course of time, when the Japanese commander was pressured by his deadlines, he eventually had to bend his rules against his will to the demands of the British officer if only to save his life from the dangers he faces if he was not able to meet his deadline for the construction of the bridge. Having regained his power and dignity in the presence of the Japanese soldiers, colonel Nicholson solicited the help of the British officers and soldiers to build the bridge they were ordered to do, the best thing that happened in the movie. The colonel had good intentions of showing how diplomatic the British could work with their enemies and let them appreciate the ‘civilized’ living they have, adhering to rules and respecting humanity, giving them the dignity of human beings. Instead of working against their enemies as initially intended, the British prisoners of war worked in their favor. The engineer revealed the mistakes in building the bridge on an unstable area and he collaborated with the other officers to plan to make a good bridge. The ideal of Nicholson were logical he could even convince any viewer with it. Build a bridge of good quality and show the Japanese what British soldiers could do, boost the morale of the soldiers and uphold their dignity and, to top his reasoning, the project would be for the good of the British government, were what the officer said. Building the bridge would be a diplomatic act in favor of the British government, he reasons. But was that really it? When the engineer told Colonel Nicholson that the bridge they were to build is similar to the medieval London Bridge that stood six hundred years of service, he became ecstatic, more driven and ambitious. He probably was thinking that he would be known for such a long time in the history of Bangkok because of such a bridge that is seen to last for years. This was where his intentions were to be tested. He wanted to protect his bridge. He wanted it so badly he did not even think that there might be a plan for their rescue when he saw something odd under the bridge. Instead, he led the Japanese officer to where the British soldier was, in search for what seemed to be an oddity to him. When he finally realized that an attack on the Japanese train was planned by blowing the bridge as the train passes by, he reveals how he wanted to keep the bridge. He was a British soldier, an officer. It was his duty to first serve his country before anything or anybody else. Yet, when his history was in the brink of destruction, he forgot his duties and responsibilities as a soldier. He prevented the Canadian soldier to blow off the bridge and even called for help from the Japanese soldiers. When he saw and recognized the American soldier who escaped from the camp under the leadership of commander Saito, it was then that he came to his senses and questioned himself about what he has done. His realizations came quite late because the injured major Warden who was watching what was happening from afar fired bombs towards him. Before he died, Nicholson tried to go near the detonator where he dropped dead, causing the bomb to blow off. The major is another story of a similar passion, probably the worst character in the story. He is a real man of war, training his men with real bombs and guns going off in simulations. He is a fighter, one who would kill without second thoughts in the midst of danger. He works for the British government aimed at destroying their enemies. Destroying the bridge made by his fellow British soldiers, is one thing and, destroying the train carrying soldiers and important dignitaries, is another. The former is to prevent their enemies use British engineering to their advantage and the latter is to destroy and show the Japanese that they are in control of situations in such a time. Blowing up the bridge would then be like killing two birds with one stone, a perfect situation for the major. Nevertheless, the presence of a British officer in the area would prove to be destructive to the plan rather than helpful. As mentioned earlier, colonel Nicholson had his personal intentions of being famous through the bridge so that he did everything he can to avoid his own people from destroying his way to glory. If Nicholson tried to cover his own desires, decisions and actions through idealistic reasoning, major Warden did the same saying, he had to kill his own people rather than have them captured alive. However, looking at the situation more intently, one could tell that the officer had his own desires of completing his mission at whatever cost, and this made a fatal end to the lives of heroes, the worst thing that could happen in the movie and in real life. II The film presents impressive and easy to like. The concepts are not just interesting but they are also historical and cultural in nature that its audience extends to all kinds of viewers. The film is also educational it could be used as a material for studies. Ingenious would be what could describe the film. The twists of the story are not expected that it holds the audiences’ attention, wondering what could happen next. Moreover, the unfolding of the drama usually takes what could be least expected. Being a harsh leader, Saito was not expected to become like a meek lamb, bending to the demands of Nicholson. Nicholson was an ideal leader but he turned out to be more of a traitor than the hero he tried to portray. Shears was a resigned soldier ready to take a civilian’s life again but he realized he had no choice but to go back to the camp where he was imprisoned. The Canadian soldier was an accountant who cannot imagine his self sticking a knife in a man but when his mission was in danger of being discovered by the enemy, he braced himself and killed the Japanese commander. These are all real-life characteristics that are true which I personally can identify with, based from my experiences and observations. Commander Shears is an interesting character in the movie. He is a man of deception. In the opening of the story, he is shown bribing the soldier looking after him and his companion in order to get in the sick list. Being considered sick would excuse him from manual hard labor. When the Japanese soldier refused to accept his claim, Shears tried to be good to him, giving him a gift he claims to have been given by a soldier they were currently burying and saying that he wanted to do the same honorable act to the guard before the commander passes away like his deceased fellow prisoner. This softened the guard’s heart and therefore gave him the privilege to be included in the sick list along with his friend. As the story unfolds, it is found out that such is not the only deception he played. When major Warden told him that the American government allowed him to work under the British army and go back to the camp, he revealed that he is not the commander Shears he claimed to be. The poor American was but an enlisted man in the cruiser USS Houston who switched uniforms with the dead commander Shears when their ship sank. The man known to be commander Shears did so because he foresaw how he would be treated well if he were known to be an officer. Such deceits worked well with him as he enjoyed special treatments until the time he was placed under the care of the British Army who found him perishing on his escape boat. In an ironic turn, his deceit was used against him by major Warden through another deceit. The British officer asked him to work in the mission that they were planning but when the American soldier refused, he then revealed that they already know about him; that his papers of transfer were already processed and approved by his government. He was blackmailed by Warden, knowing that the American soldier would be facing charges of impersonating an officer once he goes back to his country. Shears had no choice but to take the offer of becoming a simulated major in the British Army, commissioned to assist in the destruction of the bridge at the river Kwai. III In addition to individual differences presented through the characters discussed above, the film also portrays cultural values. Shears is an American and although he was the lone American in the movie, he may as well represent his people as a whole. He portrays the desire of Americans to stay free as he desires to escape. He is an ingenious person, always thinking of ways to escape labors that would not benefit him but yearns to live the beautiful life every American dreams. He considers the facts and accepts the harsh realities of war conditions. He was in the camp long before the British soldiers under colonel Nicholson arrived and he had sense to accept the fact that as a prisoner, he was not a soldier but a slave. He is calculating and patient. He has plans of escaping although they were advised against it because of sheer difficulty considering the geography of the prison camp. Nevertheless, he pushed through with his plan, patiently waiting for the perfect time. He is a risk-taker. Nicholson on the other hand is quite his opposite. He wanted to live by the rules. He was ethical and a humanitarian. He fights for what is right and just. He is a strong warrior, never bending his principles. He is a model of a good citizen, good soldier and leader. He pleads his cause through reason. He is the educated British citizen who believes in the power of peaceful negotiations. He is an advocate of humanitarian thinking, a respecter of authority and the people in authority. He is a believer of civilization as he claims that the rules he obeys are what makes people civilized. He looks at other cultures on the same level as the British are. When Shears pointed out to him that the Japanese soldiers had no rules and no civilization, Nicholson still considered seeing the Japanese made to become as civilized as the British are. This is where a clash between the American and British occur, Shears was ready to accept and face the facts, Nicholson wanted to change them. The Japanese on the other hand show another breeding. The nationality of the captors is often revealed through the showing of their flag and is also identified through their darker skin, shorter stature as the Caucasians and their slanted eyes as well as their language. The commander was harsh, showed his power through threats and was arrogant. He believed he could break the British leader through harsh punishments. He used power to hide his fears. Commander Saito revealed to the British colonel how he feared his leader, the reason why he was in such a hurry to complete the bridge the prisoners were working on. If he was not able to finish the bridge on schedule, he would be a dead man. So either he kills himself first or be killed by his leader. This, of course, was not Nicholson’s concern but his point reveals what the Japanese could do in such dire situations. Self-sacrifice is an honorable act to them so he would rather kill himself than suffer under the hands of another Japanese officer. However, what concerned the commander more was the fact that he will not be the only one committing suicide if the task is not completed on time. His soldiers will kill themselves before the commander does. This portrays the culture of the Japanese, considering suicide a more honorable act than being shamed for not doing one’s job well. As the Japanese commander introduced himself, he mentioned that he is in charge of the camp in Bangkok which is in Siam, now known as Thailand. This is not the only information that shows another culture. The help received by the British Army who was commissioned to blow the bridge are Siamese. Their mode of dressing shows their culture. The women are not treated in a special manner but are given the chance to be of service in a dangerous mission. They are tough but gentle. The women carried bundles of necessities for the group and served the soldiers. Still they maintain their grace and beauty. This shows the peaceful quality of their nation and people. Based from the majority of the characters, it could be said that the producers are British. With such large cast of characters and the variation of the cultures, it probably could be fairly considered that one producer would not be able to work on the film alone. From such information, it is probable that different reactions to the movie would arise. Americans might question the character of their officer who impersonated a dead man. The British might as well be very proud of their diplomacy but not the decisions and actions of their soldiers portrayed in the movie. The Japanese might deny that their leader could really become so tamed and powerless. Personally, I like the film because of its historical information and the presentation of the realities of what power and ego could do to human thinking and attitude. Power is a soothing element to the battered soul, like alcohol that numbs one’s feelings to pain. However, when taken in too much quantity, it becomes poison to the system, able to destroy a person. The Bridge at the River Kwai symbolizes power and fame. For Saito, it was the power that saved his life. For Nicholson, it is the power that will let his name live for generations and bring him to fame and fortune. For Warden, it is a power he must destroy. In the quest to bring to completion their desires about such power, the three have to face each other and see who would come out victorious. Read More