Why is Holden's last sentence so terrific

Shanny 2021-12-22 08:01:04

(Very subjective understanding, it may be unreasonable. Short comments can’t be put here)

At the end of the film, Holden said to his comrades before leaving the POW camp: "If you meet me at a street corner in the future, please pretend you don't know me."

This should be my favorite line in this film.

Originally, according to Hollywood's more common routine, Holden's character should complete the transformation of values ​​at the end of the film, from being alone to participating in the collective theme, and to prove his transformation through the final adventure.

Here is a comparison of "The Spy in Cairo" shot by Wilder a few years earlier. At the beginning of the story, the French girl only wanted to save her younger brother. However, at the end of the film, the actor persuaded her to understand the greater interests and chose the overall situation. Sacrifice yourself. She followed the above routine.

Holden in "Battlefield Army Soul" seems to have to walk the same way until he gets into the tunnel and lightly said to his comrades above: "If you meet me at a street corner in the future, please pretend you don't know me."

One sentence denies the possibility of him submitting to the collective, and it is reminiscent that he ventured out to save the officers. It seems that he was not trying to obey a certain collective interest or to atone for his self-interested behavior before. It seemed that he was just trying to escape by the way, leaving this group that didn't understand him and didn't like him. He doesn't want to have anything to do with this collective in the future.

He is still the cynic businessman who pursues individualism. He has not changed.

In my opinion this is absolutely extraordinary.

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Extended Reading

Stalag 17 quotes

  • Sgt. Schulz: How do you expect to win the war with an army of clowns?

    Lt. James Skylar Dunbar: We sort of hope you'd laugh yourselves to death.

  • Shapiro: I'm tellin' ya, Animal, these Nazis ain't kosher.

    Animal: Ya can say that again!

    Shapiro: I'm tellin' ya, Animal, these Nazis ain't kosher!

    Animal: I said ya can say it again, that doesn't mean ya hafta repeat it!