Seeing the image of Kirk Douglas assaulting on the poster, looking up from the perspective, coupled with the era-like title and "Bombshell!", we seem to realize that this is a discussion of patriotism. But after watching the movie twice, I still couldn't answer the question categorically on the title: "Whose road to glory?". It seems that every plot is an absurd sketch.
Just like the images of prostitutes that often appear in literary and artistic works gather money, sex, violence, and law, war has always become the darling of artists. War gathers class, survival and death, patriotism, violence, justice and evil, etc. Proposition. Kubrick's use of war elements is unique, and his understanding of them usually also carries philosophical thinking from many aspects, so the diversified role settings and role conflicts are obvious in his film. And he also likes to tell it in an ironic tone that he is very good at, and there is a bit of comedy hidden in the tragedy. Coupled with unique aesthetic concepts such as single-point perspective lenses and sophisticated screenwriting skills, his works are always worthy of repeated fun. The more you think, the more you can appreciate its subtlety and genius. It is as comprehensive as a drama, and it doesn't feel blunt.
Everything starts from the very beginning, the "impossible task" given to General Paul Merrion by George Brollard (college?). General Merrion, under the lure of the Medal of Honor, shook his good image as a general. Therefore, it is only natural that the French army was defeated later. Interestingly, two of the three soldiers whom General Merrion condoned during the inspection were good soldiers who were about to be shot-Fro and Paris. The third Arnault witnessed the general suffering from shells. The poor soldier in shock regards the whole process as a coward. The conflict between Colonel Dax and General Merrion who loves soldiers is the first major contradiction in the film: patriotism and "patriotism is the best excuse for rogue."
In the eyes of General Merrion, all retreating soldiers are cowards, and the absolute obedience of soldiers is the ultimate rule of their own wishes, and there is no judgment of rationality at all. So when he saw the soldiers in the trenches indifferent, he let the artillery attack his soldiers; therefore, in the military court he set up to question the innocent soldiers, Colonel Saint Oban's idea was so simple that it made people laugh: Did you retreat? If so, he deserves to die; that's why he wants to execute innocent soldiers who are brave and desperate. The image of the clown of Brollard, who was singing and dancing during the war, was also very vivid. The plot of resolutely refused to participate in the "disciplinary meeting" at the table and the clear protection of life really made me sneer. "One of the ways to maintain discipline is to kill a soldier from time to time." Such disregard of humanity is really shocking.
The execution scene (and before and after) of Ming Chui Film and Television is an explosion of contradictions and thinking. The three poor soldiers were selected through interpersonal relations, personal enmity, and random, and none of them were related to cowardice. Before the priest came in, there was no difference between the three people, full of hope and a sense of fear; but after the priest came in, the three people’s attitude towards their creed and beliefs changed completely, symbolizing the three. An attitude toward death and unjust punishment. Fro’s faith collapsed. He was most afraid of death. He put his hope on God and priests who could not and could not help him at all. The hysterics when approaching the death penalty stake was ridiculous and heartache; Paris showed calmness. Real personality: strong, decent, distrustful of God but respecting faith, but still sad and even collapse. I think the darkest humor is the setting of the role of Arnault. His character is fortitude, justice, non-belief in God, and the strongest spirit of rebellion, but he has always been a bystander. When the general criticized the soldiers in shock, he watched silently by the side. When he was executed, he was in a coma. His consciousness was not involved in the death process, he was still just the rebel of the godfather of boxing. This reminds me of the plot in Camus’ The Outsider:
I don't know why, as if something burst on my body, I yelled at my throat, I scolded him, I told him not to pray for me. I grabbed the collar of his robe, and vented the words deep in my heart, the emotions of joy and anger, to him. ...And what about later? It seems that what I have been waiting for is this minute, this dawn when I will be proven innocent.
Mersault died of the spiritual abuse of society, and Arnault died of the trampling of human nature by meat eaters. "Compared to death, we are more afraid of death and pain." They avoided the bullets of the German army, but were killed by their own bullets, although the machine guns caused less pain, but they felt the day of execution. The taste of despair.
The priest said to Fro: "Be brave, this is the will of God." This is also the will of General Merrion. Merrion has the same idea as God. In other words, the general is the God of soldiers.
There are also two character settings that are quite interesting. One is the big fat beard next to the soldier who was slapped by General Merrion. He acts as the image of the executioner in the political machine in the film. He carried away the soldier with shell shock, pulled out the emotional breakdown Parris, and tied him into a faint. Arnault among them. The other is Lieutenant Roger, a typical villain who uses power for personal gain, persecuting Paris who knows his own details. But the big fat beard gave him a drink before he took Paris away, and Roger was embarrassed and apologized in front of Paris. Such contradictory characters also make the story a lot alive.
The whole execution process made people feel extremely depressed, not only for the excellent performance of the above-mentioned characters, but also for camera processing reasons.
There are not too many gorgeous things, but the use of the lens is just right, expressing the deep sense of powerlessness of the power of justice. This is equally shocking.
In addition, the scene scheduling of the previous war scenes was also very good. Although only two and a half minutes, it showed the bravery and fearlessness of the soldiers, which paved the way for the absurd behavior of the generals behind.
The most interesting is the portrayal of the French soldiers in the last paragraph. After the execution of the three soldiers, the rest of the soldiers were still chatting and laughing in the tavern, in a joyous atmosphere. After teasing a German girl, she was touched by her song "Der Treue Husar". The soldiers sang in tears, thinking of their mother, and their beloved girl is still waiting for good news at home, but their life or death is uncertain... …Everyone sang together, regardless of country or ethnicity, homesickness is the language that connects all soldiers. What really shocked them was not the punishment of their generals, but the folk songs sung by girls from the enemy country. Although this is still Ku-style black humor, there is more touching warmth in it. The young Kubrick gave us a glimmer of hope at this time. Perhaps this is a world that is annihilating humanity, but at least it allows people to see the light of humanity.
So, what is this glorious road? It is not only bloody patriotism, but also true, good and beautiful humanity that can make correct decisions in the face of hatred and interests, and it is also always toward a just order.
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