Camille Gross: The Thin Red Line 22 April

         For The Thin Red Line, we did not focus on the dialogue or plot. Action and visuals were more important for this intense war film. The title comes from a quote in the book that says, “they discover the thin red line that divides the sane from the mad and the living from the dead.” In the film, we see the characters bounce struggle to cross the “line” of fear in order to do their job. The best example is seen in Private Witt.
         Witt is terrified of death and even goes AWOL in order to avoid going back to battle. Although he is forced to return, he makes the decision at the end of the film to be on the lookout for Japanese soldiers. He ends up surrounded by Japanese soldiers who want him to surrender. Witt has the option to surrender but where would that leave him? Would they capture him and torture him or kill him? He decides to point his rifle at them and they kill him. In this moment, his sublime aspect is shown as he stares death directly in the face and accepts his fate. This is also seen in the moments after his death where the camera shows the sun shining through the leaves. Francis Bacon said, “In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.” A quote like this can really apply to any dreadful situation and goes perfectly with Witt’s experience in war. He experienced tragedy all around him but also had some wonderful moments. After the sun is shown, the next moments are flashbacks of Witt with the children he played with in the beginning of the film. Then a tree is shown again but now the sun is no longer being hidden by the leaves.