US 32m Dir: John Huston
Documentary
This film made by the US army depicts one of the toughest campaigns of the Second World War, the fight up through Italy with a focus on the Battle of San Pietro.
Unusually for any film at the time, especially one intended as a piece of propaganda, it is unflinching in the way it shows dead American soldiers and happily discusses heavy losses. It's therefore ethical propaganda that doesn't seek to sugarcoat things and attempts to give an accurate portrayal.
Despite being claimed at the time that it was actually filmed during the battle it was later revealed it was actually constructed which is problematic. We can't really know how accurate a version of the battle it portrays when the images are staged.
I found this really boring. It uses a dull narration that gives a blow-by-blow account of the battle. There's no attempt at using any artistry and it's also very impersonal, making no attempt to show us or speak to individual soldiers. It's the film equivalent of a textbook rather than a well-written academic text- it gives the facts but in no way attempts to capture attention nor dive deeper into the scenario.
At least the ending is more interesting as there's a focus on the cemeteries where the many dead are buried and how grateful the locals are. Really this is the only point where it feels like a propaganda film. You can imagine young soldiers watching this feeling greatly disturbed at the horrors to come but understanding at the end the honour that comes with it and the freedom US soldiers are able to give to people.
It's interesting as a historical artifact but as a film, it's dry and tedious.
Comments
Post a Comment