The Thin Red Line, Sarita Madrid

            The film communicates the ideas of the sublime and the Holy in several ways. A primary way that I saw these ideas shown was through the prayer or meditation of the soldiers. There are several scenes that soldiers, both Japanese and American, can be seen praying or meditating, especially when the Japanese are captured. One scene that stood out to me was a Japanese man meditating in the middle of the chaotic warfare. This is such an interesting parallel because he is searching for this peace in the midst of war. Both sides participating in this prayer or meditation makes me think of it being just another factor that unites them and makes them both human.

Another aspect of the film that communicates ideas of transcendent reality is the way the characters view suffering and death. Some soldiers do not find much meaning in their life or death as they comment, “What difference can you make? If you die it’s worth nothing.” The Colonel seems to add to this opinion when he says, “How many lives do you think it’s worth?” This sounds like he is speaking about the lives of others as if they are expendable and not worth much. He even demands that the Captain send them up the mountain even if it means that they will die. He does not seem to have any regard for the value of human life. He simply orders his men to their death even if the Captain, who knows the situation better, says it is not a good idea. In regards to views about death, Private Witt is the character that the film focuses on to display someone who is fearful of death, like most humans. However, he explains that his mother was someone who did not have fear when she died which is the ultimate expression of immortality for humans. He expresses the desire to also die like she did. Many other soldiers exhibit this fear of death including the Japanese soldiers who are terrified when they are taken over by the American soldiers. Fear of death and suffering is yet another similarity that the soldiers shares which makes them human.

There is a turning point for Witt in his fear of death. It is evident that he is able to face this fear as he volunteers to search the jungle area with two others. This is a big decision he makes and it stuck out to me because usually one is able to face their fear of death through the help of a transcendent being. This transformation he undergoes seems to be the doing of the Holy or some higher power. In this expedition to search the jungle, he gets caught and surrounded by enemy soldiers. As he stands there, he appears to not be paying attention to what they are saying. He stares off into the distance and remembers all the good memories he has experienced. He truly seems not phased nor scared of the death he is about to face. It is as if he has overcome death.

            The filmmaker uses nature and war symbolically in the movie and relates these to the struggle to survive. The parallel between nature and war is repeatedly used throughout most scenes in the film. Both of these things seem to represent the beauty as well as the horrors of life. Throughout the movie, numerous amounts of people are effortlessly killed and the value of life does not seem present. While on the other hand, the shots of nature provide such a picturesque representation and appreciation of life and its’ beauty. It is interesting that the two images of war and nature are placed next to each other because the viewer is able to see both life and death occurring simultaneously. As soldiers get killed, life continues on for everything else. And likewise as destruction and chaos are occurring, peace and harmony are presiding around it. Consequently, nature is thriving and soldiers are struggling to survive. Nature outlives the lives of all these soldiers and leaves the legacy that all the soldiers hope to leave.