Thin Red Line- Joseph Humphreys III

       The film Thin Red Line follows the transformational journey of younger soldiers that in an intense war against the Japanese in the Guadalcanal. Like many war movies you see a sense of religious symbolism through the soldiers. Many soldiers usually carry a bible or something that exemplifies their religion and keeping God with them through the tough times of war. The imagery that is demonstrated throughout the movie is very quickly assumed by the audience that the characters and music come second behind the vivid imagery. Throughout the movie you understand that nature is in this war along with everyone else. From lurking reptiles to injured birds the movie provides nature elements to show that the soldiers are not the only ones in the war. 
Pvt. Witt is continuously fighting between morality and religion. The movie seems to not accept and support Pvt. Witt’s fantasy about the afterlife by the scenes of his dangerous disregard of human suffering. Often times throughout the movie you see the soldiers question the war and taking other peoples life and this is when Pvt. Witts assumptions and beliefs on the afterlife are unsupported and questioned. This is also a scene where religion is references when the Captain is unwilling to send his troops to their death. This experience is similar to Arjuna’s experience with the God Vishnu, this same God had pushed the Captain to battle in similar circumstances. 

War has a strange way of causing the rise of the topic of religion and the holy. Soldiers tend to reflect on religion due to the death, suffering, and the pain that is going on around them. People in the real world tend to fall back on their beliefs and morals when times are rough and that is perfectly demonstrated throughout the movie. The fear of the unknown and mystery behind it is what helps us reach the transcendence. Throughout the movie we tend to struggle with the overall message which leaves us to find our own way. While the war causes us to question who we are while leaving the soldiers struggling to survive this is when we will find our ultimate truth. 

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