I read something in an article once describing Saving Private Ryan when it came out that I really agree with. The best war movies also tend to be anti-war movies. From All Quiet on the Western Front, Blackhawk Down, Saving Private Ryan, Dr. Strangelove, Full Metal Jacket, Patton, Cross of Iron, Das Boot, Paths of Glory, Patton, Born on the Fourth of July, Apocalypse Now, to yes, even Rambo, the best war films have been those that stress that although war may be necessary at times, it is evil, destroys everything it touches and there is nothing glorious or redeeming about it, particularly when you are at the pointy end of the stick. I have been meaning to watch A Midnight Clear since it came out in 1993, but it was one I never really got around to until now. I'm glad I watched it now for the first time, with a little bit of perspective behind me. Otherwise, I may have dismissed it earlier. What started off as a bit of a pretentious art film actually turned out to have say that resonates deeply.
The movie takes place in the Ardennes Forest in late December 1944, as the war is winding down, but the Battle of the Bulge is just about to happen. A depleted six-man intelligence squad has been sent out to determine whether a large German offensive is about to happen and when. At first they are scared because they know the Germans are out there and they are quickly discovered. They soon realize the Germans could have killed them multiple times, but didn't. Then, one night, the Germans set up a Christmas tree and begin singing carols. One of the squad approaches them and they exchange gifts. The 7-man German squad also make it clear they want to surrender. They came from the Eastern Front, are old men and boys as young as 15 and they are convinced their side is losing. They have one request. In order to protect their families back home, they have to fake a skirmish. Unfortunately, one of the Americans is not in on the deal and starts shooting for real and all the Germans end up dead. The rest of the movie deals with the aftermath.
At first, this movie comes off like an adapted play with only one set, a poor man's Full Metal Jacket which had come out 6 years before. As I said, it comes off a bit pretentious at first, but as the first act settles in, we get a growing sense of dread of the unseen enemy. The movie is also filled with stark, haunting, even gruesome imagery, adding to the sense of dread. But once the Germans are revealed as what they are trying to do, that is where the humanity of the film kicks in. It's easy to hate "them," the impersonal enemy. It becomes a very different story when you see the humanity behind "them." This is why soldiers and populations are conditioned in times of war to not think of "them" except as the enemy. Jerries, Krauts, Japs, Gooks, Hajees; all hurtful titles designed to not make them people, but the enemy. When we are attacked, like in 9/11, it is natural to hate "them," but like this movie and others have tried to make clear, we must be careful not to paint with too broad a brush. There are evil people out there, and yes, they must be removed from the Earth. But we must be careful we don't get so preoccupied with hating "them" that we forget our (and their) humanity in the process. Otherwise, we just kill everybody and that is the end of the world.
Because this is the real world, war is sometimes a necessary evil, but it should be the tool of last resort and not used for political expediency or at a moment of profound anger. Now, lest someone think I am commenting on recent political events, I most definitely am not. But I pray we don't get too comfortable with the idea that war is one of the only ways to handle problems. Now, as much as I love movies like The Dirty Dozen, The Green Berets, The Audie Murphy Story, The Sands of Iwo Jima, Kelly's Heroes and the like, their sanitized views of combat are not healthy. They promote the idea of war as glorious, even fun at times. Certainly they depict war with few real consequences. As much as people don't like to see it, they should be reminded that war is horror and destruction. I hope one day John Lennon may be right, but until that day, we must be prepared for the worst.
