"Hello there soldier, ready to kill more Germans?"
MIREAU. I never got the habit of sitting. I like to keep on the move...I can't understand those arm-chair officers, fellas trying to fight a war from beneath a desk, waving papers at the enemy, worrying about whether a mouse is gonna run up their pants leg.
DAX. I don't know, General. If I had a choice between mice and Mausers [the rifle the Germans use], I think I'd take the mice every time.
Here is the information for the film.
Look at this clip from the film, probably the most famous in the film and one of the scenes Stanley Kubrick is most famous for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkUKAtzE0r0
Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) is generally considered as one of the greatest of American film directors. He wrote or co-wrote nine of his thirteen feature films as well as produced many of them. The great majority of his films were adapted from literary works. He was nominated for a best director Oscar four times, and for best screenplay five times. He won once as director of special effects on 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax.
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General Broulard (Adolph Menjou) and Dax.
Stanley Kubrick on the set of Paths of Glory.
The original poster for the film used now as the cover of the novel.
Now the questions: remember to write your responses as you would for an in-class assignment. Please don't do this on your phone. I always know when someone does. But if you do, again: write this as you would an in-class assignment.
1. Your reaction to the first half of the film (we pretty much stopped in its middle)? Like? Dislike? Why?
2. Some of you in first period were commenting on its small budget, even for a film of its era. The big blockbuster of two years later was Ben-Hur which cost a little over $15 million. That is 2018 money is $127 million. So indeed Paths of Glory was a small movie. Yet it looks, at least to me, like the proverbial million dollars. It's a gorgeous-looking movie. So what about the movie stayed with you hours later? What moment, what scene, what image, what sound, what editing, whatever, struck you so much that you can still see and/or here it? And why?
3. This is the moment Colonel Dax agrees to take The Ant Hill. Mireau has already laid out the math of the attack: Dax will lose over half his men. He quotes Samuel Johnson that "patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundral." He clearly does not believe this attack will succeed.
Yet...he agrees to lead the attack. What do you think of his decision? Agree? Disagree? Was he right to do this? Support your answer.
You need to write 200-250 words for the three questions. Just click on the comment icon and write. Feel free, please, to agree with your classmates—or disagree. If you have problems with posting, answer the questions anyhow and email them to me.
Enjoy your weekend. See you Monday.
I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of the first 10-15 minutes of Paths of Glory due to all the dialogue and not much action; however, my opinion changed as we kept watching the film. I actually enjoyed the first half of the movie, especially the No Man’s Land army crawl scene. I feel like it gave one of the most realistic portrayals of trench warfare that I have ever seen in a movie. It was so realistic, I felt like I was a soldier out there too. This is also the first time that I have appreciated that a film is in black and white rather than color because color often distracts from the intricacy of the plot and conflict in a movie. There are so many mini-conflicts, both external and internal. For example, the high-ranking officers struggle with morality, while the soldiers face the near-impossible task of taking The Ant Hill, so keeping things in black and white keeps the audience more focused on the foreground rather than the background in every shot.
ReplyDeleteColonel Dax was certainly courageous to tell his superior to his face that “patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundral." Originally, I was shocked by Dax’s decision to take The Ant Hill, but I am not surprised anymore. Mireau threatened to fire him, which would separate him from his men who would probably be sent out to take The Ant Hill nonetheless. I think that as a Colonel, I would rather lead my soldiers into potential death rather than have someone else do the job because if the mission failed, I would never forgive myself. Plus, I was too caught up in my hatred of Mireau to really consider disliking Dax.
The one thing that breaks my interest in the movie is that I keep thinking that the French soldiers, generals, etc., should all be speaking French, not English. It is a constant reminder that Paths of Glory is only a film, not real life.
So far, I actually like the movie. I am impressed by the editing, effects, and visual storytelling that Kubrick was able to utilize, even without the film equipment disposable to us today. In addition, I feel that Kubrick was very successful in building a world for the audience; it personally made me feel like I was being given a faithful account on what trench warfare in World War I France was like. One of the things that I would like to see are more of the soldiers’ points of view towards the war. While I am enjoying the movie, I admit that I am frustrated by the lack of sympathy that General Mireau has for his men. I feel that the audience would be even more immersed in the movie if they knew the perspectives of more than one group of people in WWI.
ReplyDeleteThere were two particular scenes that stuck with me. The first scene was the reveal of an private’s death during the three-man undercover operation in the beginning of the movie. When the audience discovers that the private has died, we see a medium shot of the private’s corpse, accompanied by a harsh cymbal in the background. In my opinion, this scene mirrored the jarring realization that the private’s fellow soldiered probably felt when they saw their fallen comrade. It put me in the mindset of the soldiers and, therefore, allowed me to sympathize and connect with them. The second scene that struck me was the continuous tracking shot of the French soldiers leaving their trench and moving closer to German-occupied territory. Not only was I impressed by how Kubrick maintained a single shot for as long as he did, but I also feel that the constant explosions and bullet sound effects added a feel of chaos. It immersed me into the movie made me feel more interested in what was going on.
I believe that Colonel Dax had no choice but to agree to Mireau’s plan. Throughout this movie, I have noticed that soldiers are expected to fight their enemies without hesitation or else risk being belittled or punished. For example, during General Mireau’s tour of the trench, he encounters a soldier who seemed to have retain psychological damage from the war. Instead of showing the smallest ounce of sympathy to the man, General Mireau simply slapped him and sent him away from the battlefield with shame. After seeing that scene, I concluded that General Mireau (and possibly any other high-ranking generals) has programed his soldiers to value victory in France’s name rather than the well-being of their fellow man. Personally, I do not feel that such a large sacrifice of men was the right thing to do; I believe that, instead, Mireau could do more to raise the morale of his soldiers. While watching the movie (particularly during Mireau’s tour scene), I noticed that the soldiers were not as nearly enthusiastic about the war as the general was. Instead, it seems like the French soldiers believe that they are fighting a hopeless battle. I predict that if the men were more motivated to fight in the war, then they would be more willing to put the lives of half of the battalion on the line.
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ReplyDeleteBefore starting this movie, I did not think I would like it because it is not a genre I normally watch, but the film is done in such a way that makes it enjoyable even to people who are not war buffs. I think there is an appropriate amount of dialogue mixed in with the war scenes making it a movie worth watching, while at the same time not being too dry or slow. Not only was the action entertaining, but I believe it was a good representation of what trench warfare was really like. The harsh conditions are made even worse by the treatment of the soldiers from the General, and the lack of respect he has for the men fighting for him. I am hopeful the the men being put on trial in the scene we are coming up on can somehow make it out alive.
ReplyDeleteThere is one scene in particular that is still in my mind now. When all the men are standing in the trenches while Colonel Dax walked through slowly waiting to countdown the moments to attack was very powerful in my opinion. I like this scene because you can see the terror in their eyes as they prepare themselves for a nearly impossible attempt to attack The Ant Hill. It also struck me how strong and collected the colonel stayed throughout this scene knowing he was about to lose a big portion if his men, and possibly himself. The moment after this one when they actually start the attack is noteworthy because you can see the emotions of the soldiers continue to resonate, and some soldiers jump back into the trench. These scenes are important to the film because they set us up for the next stages of the movie, i.e. the trial.
I agree with Jacobi that Colonel Dax really did not have choice when accepting Mireau's plan. Dax knew that Mireau would get his way, being that he is in the superior position, and Dax probably felt more comfortable with the challenge being in his hands. This way, he had more control over the situation. I think Dax made the correct decision by agreeing the Mireau. Therefore, he has a better chance of maintaining his status as a Colonel and maybe has the chance of being promoted in the future. If he had not agreed, Mireau would not have been happy, possibly causing problems of Dax in the future.
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ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed "Paths to Glory" (at least so far). I think that visually, it was really striking because it was really dirty/gritty, which I don't think a lot of movies today take on very well. The movie wasn't shy from showing gory or grotesque scenes, such as wounded soldiers in the trenches, or the guy that had gotten blown up. I also liked it because it made you feel how helpless a soldier would feel in the trenches. You are at the mercy of foreign "chunks of steel, ripping through you" and the out-of touch generals that control you. The scene that really stood out to me was where the two soldiers were talking in their bunks and one was trying to convince the other that "we aren't afraid of death, just of getting hurt." The other soldier just wants to get some rest before he is sent to fight the next morning. They don't have a choice as whether to fight or not, they can only pray they don't get hurt. I think scenes like this are why the film stands out: even though you don't need a lot of money to show two soldiers just talking, a lot of time and thought is clearly put into the dialogue. The dialogue also shows who the characters are, even if they don't really do anything. For example, the General's comment about "not being an armchair general" and being in the thick of it just show how out of touch he is: a better General would try to make the right decisions for the army and his troops, and accept their realities, rather than trying to cater to one's personal, unfounded ideals.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Colonel Dax had a choice in standing up to the general: the environment he lives in, and the culture he grew up in forces his hand. The general threatens Colonel Dax with being relieved of duty for being a coward, and accuses him of not having confidence: his only option is to charge the anthill. I believe the term we might use today would be "Toxic Masculinity:" Dax is forced to conform to a narrow vision of manhood, one seen by the General. On top of this, General Mireau says stuff like "your troops are cowards and scum" to Dax when they physically could not have exited the trench without being blown to bits. Dax was there, and knows this reality: as field commander, he is showing true courage. In my opinion, Cowardice is not shown by the unwillingness to do stupid things (like attempting to take the anthill), rather it is giving into fear in an unfounded manner and not taking responsibility for your actions (like the guy that goes on a reconnaissance mission drunk and kills LeJean).
So far I have enjoyed “The Paths of Glory”. While the beginning seemed a bit slow, it developed Mireaus’s character very thoroughly. From the getgo the viewer sees the comical, ignorant, and power hungry personality of the General. Another well made character, the sergeant, really shows how unreliable and malicious individuals can make their way through the ranks in the army, thus exposing the institutions flaws. Along with the fascinating character development, I enjoyed the bits of comedy throughout the movie. The scene of the General and his Major strolling through the trenches made me chuckle. I found it ironic how the General kept trying to pump up his men by saying, “Hello there soldier, ready to kill more Germans”, yet yelled and cursed out a wounded and shell shocked soldier.
ReplyDeleteThe scenes of the Colonel preparing to and actually leading his men across the battlefield particularly stuck with me. I assume that the Colonel felt immense fear in the moments leading up to/during the attack. Fear of losing over half of the men who he commanded and who depended on him. Fear of dying, and never again seeing those he loved. Fear of having to live with the thought that he had led so many men to their futile deaths. These facts to me highlight his courage and willingness to literally put himself before his men in the face of danger.
Regarding the Colonels acceptance of the Anthill mission, I think that the he made neither a clearly right, nor clearly wrong decision. Arguably, the Colonel should have flat out refused the order given by the General. After all, what are hundreds of lives worth next to a virtually impossible and ridiculous mission. However, even if the Colonel has been firm in his refusal, the General could have taken the measures to remove the Colonel, and institute someone faithful to himself, for example the Major, to instead carry out the mission. Thus, in agreeing to the mission, the Colonel's men have a leader who still cares about their general well being. Eventually when the Colonel retreats in order to rally his other troops who stayed behind, he is met with set opposition to go onto the field of battle. In another scene, General Mireaus demands punishment be doled out to the Colonel's men. The Colonel, instead of sentencing the sergeants who disobeyed his orders to death, puts his own livelihood at stake by telling the General to execute him instead of his men. Because of these examples, I believe that the Colonel's decision to obey the General's orders leans slightly towards the side of being right.
It is obviously a very well made film and the effects and some of the cinematography was really amazing. I generally don’t love war movies because I think their all similar and I usually find them pretty boring but this one was a bit more interesting because there was a very obvious ethical conflict. I didn’t love the first half, but I liked it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the scenes that I really stayed with me was the scene where they try to cross to the anthill. I liked the way they did the explosions, but I didn’t love the auto. One other thing I remember that i liked, although I can’t really remember why, is the music. I just remember when the three men ago across to investigate and the music really fit the scene.
I agree with colonel Dax’s decision because he didn’t have much of a choice besides say yes. Mireau would have found someone else to do it if Dax didn’t agree, and in the end you can see that Dax is still fighting for his men, which probably wouldn’t have been the case if someone was brought in my Mireau. Dax clearly cares about and wants to protect his men so he didn’t want to leave their side when they were sent to their death.
Paths of glory
ReplyDeleteIf I am being completely honest I was not blown away by Paths of glory just because I've never been intrigued by movies in the war genre. I didn’t fully dislike the film but I felt it was very slow at the beginning but as the movie continued more action began which caught my attention. After watching the first half of the film there were some scenes that I liked and stayed in my mind after a few days.
One of my favorite scenes was when Private Ferol and Corporal Paris where going around and asking other soldiers, “Hello there soldier, ready to kill more Germans?" I found this scene very funny, because it was in such a serious environment and when he said this all you can do is laugh. Another scene that stuck with me was when the French soldiers were there trench once at a time. This stuck with me because the scene was so nerve racking watching and hoping they don’t get killed as they leave. The sound effects of the guns and bombs exploding in the background added to the stress and made the science more dramatic.
Being in such a serious situation I believe colonel Dax was forced to agree to Mireaus plan. With Mireau being the general, I feel that if colonel Dax didn’t agree he would be putting his life/position on the line. I agree that colonel Dax did the right thing for himself and for the men he is fighting for.
1. So far I love this film. It strikes an odd balance between dialogue and non dialogue scenes. The first few scenes play out like a theater production, with the characters dramatically walking about the room as they wax poetic about the conflicts within the war. In between heavy dialogue scenes there will be serene moments of pure visuals (and audio), for instance Dax walking quietly among the troops before their attempt at Ant Hill, or the scouts crawling silently through the battlefield, or even the actual attack on Ant Hill, which I think was brilliantly done with just the sounds of the battlefield (rather than a dramatic score). This balance gives the film a sense of ebb and flow, which does something to the pacing of the film that I haven't seen done in many movies. I also (of course) love the visuals. The camera fluidly follows the characters and creates single, double, or even wide shots with the same continuous take. That type of camera work is reminiscent to Kurosawa (specifically Seven Samurai). The camera work also places the viewer directly in these soldiers shoes. We never see a wide shot of the landscape until they are crawling through it, and even then one couldn't see the horizon, which makes the battleground seem endless. It gives the viewer a sense that they are trapped in the trenches as well, fighting for their lives. I also like how we haven't even seen a single enemy soldier or cannon or rifle or anything for that matter. This further cements the subjective role this camera has, as the viewer only sees what the soldiers can see.
ReplyDelete2. If I had to choose one specific moment that struck me as a viewer it would be when the scouts were quietly gathering information on the Ant Hill. The one soldier has just left the other two to search the mysterious structure in the distance. The other two soldiers are watching the dark ragged battle worn landscape for his return. Then suddenly a flare is sent up behind them, and the light illuminates all of these corpses that line the battlefield. That moment left me speechless. The shock of realizing that the corpses were there the entire time was amazing. Even though the dead bodies were visible without the light, I was too focused on the tension of the soldier getting to the ruins to give notice. Also: I agree this movie does not feel like a low budget film. I think that is because the world is so immersive. The bombs feel like real bombs. The soldiers feel like real characters. The war feels like a real war. These aspects distract from the little mistakes that smaller films might make (at least mostly). I did sadly notice a camera shadow in the first scene, and a boom pole shadow in the opening trench scene, but mostly because every time I watch a movie I am looking for how they pull off each shot and special effect so I am very conscious of those types of things.
3. I love this scene as it works on so many levels. Mireau applies similar tactics that convinced him of pursuing the suicide mission of Ant Hill. He tries to use the loss of Dax's job as a bargaining chip, just as Mireau was prompted to take Ant Hill by the incentive of a job promotion. Despite Dax's acceptance of the attack after this, I believe he is doing it for noble reasons. He genuinely feels a duty to his troops, which contrast's Mireau's empty words of "one soldier is worth more than these stars" (or whatever the line is). Dax is a good person, and this decision highlights this. I agree with what others have said already, he would feel guilty if he was forced to watch from the sidelines as his men died.
So far, I have enjoyed watching "Paths of Glory". I am not a big fan of war movies because in my opinion, the complicated story lines are sometimes hard to follow along with. However, I thought this one had very strong and developed characters, which really made the movie that much more intriguing. Although I don't believe this movie was a "comedy" I do think there were scenes that made the watcher laugh and take off some of the weight of a heavy war film. For example, one of the scenes that really stuck with me was when the General was walking through the trenches, yelling at soldier “ready to kill more germans?”. This scene was interesting because it made you laugh, but was also mildly disturbing. Even when he began to yell at the shell shocked soldier about being a coward, we laughed because it was ridiculous. However it really does show the problems within war and how much it can affect a single person. Although there is no way to depict the horror of what trench warfare was really like, I think the movie provides a solid representation of the type of disrespect that the soldier receive from the higher officers. I think it also portrays how some of the general were solely focused on the bigger picture and not about the individual lives of soldiers.
ReplyDeleteLike other people have said, I agree that Dax was not in a place to deny General Mireau's orders to proceed the Ant Hill. This is an example of the power dynamics within the system, and even though Dax knew he would lose half his people, he had no other choice. As unfair as it may be, if he refused, he would be labeled as a coward and his future would probably be jeopardized.
1. I am enjoying this movie, despite the fact that I am not normally a huge fan of war movies. Generally when I think of movies about war, all that comes to mind is scenes of battles and gunfire and constant fighting. This movie however, finds the right balance between action shots and other scenes that include dialogue. I think the directors do a great job of adding some humor and irony into a movie on a more serious topic, which effectively interests the viewers. I also really like the cinematography and the way scenes are shot. I think they take a really unique approach to each scene, such as the scene where Colonel Dax was walking through the trench, and the camera kept switching between his perspective and a shot of him walking through as bombs were going off around them. This made the viewers feel like they were really in the trenches.
ReplyDelete2. One other scene that really stuck with me was when the night scouts were surveying the battlefield. You could really sense their own fear through the lens. The moment when the flare was sent out and it illuminated all the dead bodies in the field was a moment that really struck me. I think it was just the reminder that the bodies don't just get cleared during the night and that these men had to crawl through their fellow soldiers bodies was horrifying and unimaginable. I also really liked the way the scene of Colonel Dax walking through the trenches before attacking the Ant Hill, as I previously stated. The emotion and fear of the soldiers around him was very apparent, and this contrasted with the calm strong demeanor of the Colonel.
3. I don't think Colonel Dax had any other choice than to attack. He wasn't in the authoritative position to deny the orders of Mireau, so despite knowing that he would lose at least half of his men, he had to follow through with the orders. You can tell that Dax does not agree with these actions and dreads letting the men know their mission.
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ReplyDeleteI have liked the movie up to where we left off, but the beginning was full of dialogue which made it seem slow and uninteresting to me. But as the movie continued the dialogue made more since in how the movie would progress. I also enjoyed how visual the movie got and it amazes me that is had such a small budget but everything that was included and shown so far says otherwise. Especially the moments before the men ran into battle was impressive to me because the effects and sounds with the bombs going off in the background were well done. The one scene that really stuck was the scene where you see Dax looking at his men knowing that only half of them would be alive at the end of this battle. What made this scene stick in my mind was the silence of the men while bombs went off inches of where they were standing. The dirt flying everywhere made the scene very realistic. As Dax reaches the ladder he gives his men one last look before running out into battle. As Dax was running down the field he began to look around him noticing how all his men were falling and dying. He saw that his decision was the wrong one, as do I because the number of deaths didn’t outweigh the outcome. Dax saw this and a part of his army saw this as well because they decided to not leave the trenches. And even when Dax came back to push them out it was already to late, the survivors had retreated. He knew that his men weren’t ready to go out and fight but he made the decision anyways. He did the to please and listen to his superiors but it backfire. The only men that survived were the ones who didn’t go out running or retreated. When showing the scene all I saw was men dying not getting a single shot off, they couldn’t see the enemy which was even worse. They ran out blindly and they died without making any progress. And when Dax was getting chewed out, the general wasn’t worried about all the fathers, brothers, husbands and friends that had died he was mad at the men that survived because they saw the insanity in the order. Dax regrets this and tries to take the blame but the general wants to punish the men he saw as cowards.
ReplyDeleteSo far I like the film because I think it managed a great balance of comedy and severity, and did so without making the serious scenes seem out of place or cheesy. Additionally, it held my attention (which is a feat in and of itself that early in the morning) because I really wasn’t sure where it was going and still don’t know how it will end. I loved the scenes where General Mireau was walking through the trenches and saying “Hello soldier, ready to kill more Germans?” and genuinely believing thanks to the comments of Major Saint-Aubun that he was single handedly raising the morale of the troops. This scene combined with the General clearly cowering from the explosions outside the trenches, were images that stayed in my mind after watching the film. Another memorable scene was when Colonel Dax led the men out of the trenches to attempt to take the Anthill. The soldiers clambering over the potholed sand, the explosions sprinkling the scene as soldiers fell, and the Colonel’s whistle so shrill over the noise, was also a truly tense and impactful scene. It was brilliant and hard to believe after realizing the budget of the film. I think that the awful metallic noise of the whistle allowed this scene to show the true seriousness of the film while holding the viewer’s attention.
ReplyDeleteI personally agree with Colonel Dax’s decision to lead the attack because it would have happened with or without his command. Perhaps he believed his strategy would lower the number of casualties. Even though it did not go according to plan (as many men never left the trenches) there was still no better option than to try his best to keep the largest number of men alive in this frustrating situation.
1. I like this film particularly because it reminds me of another film I adore, Gallipoli. Like that film, Paths Of Glory depicts the brutal meaninglessness of war and follows characters thrusted into horrific, futile situations. Unlike Gallipoli, however, this film was limited to the technology of the 1950s. Often with old films I find it harder to relate to the characters and the story; I’m pulled out of the immersion by the black and white visuals and out of date camera work. This time, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself deeply invested in the plight of the characters, especially the three on trial.
ReplyDelete2. What has stood out to me the most about this film has been the attack scene. It obviously portrays the futility of World War I’s trench warfare and the struggle of the two immovable but easily stoppable opposing forces. In addition to that scene, the awkward blocking throughout has also stuck with me ever since it was pointed out in class. Another scene that stood out to me was the confrontation between one soldier and his superior following the death of another soldier. When I have studied WWI in previous lit classes, it has always been apparent that the soldiers antagonized their superiors more than they antagonized the soldiers in the opposite trench. This interaction highlighted that rigid relationship.
3. Dax didn’t have a choice but to carry out the ridiculous order given by General Mireau. Had he not, he would have been court-martialed and the soldiers would have likely been sent across no-man’s land anyways. This situation again demonstrates the terror of the war. Soldiers are thrown across no-man’s land like helpless pawns and Moreau’s order makes it clear that individual life is of no regard. What stood out to me, however, was that Dax charged with his men into the field of battle instead of simply ordering them across. His willingness to fight alongside his troops redeems his character after the awful order he has just been forced to give.
So far, I have enjoyed the first half of Paths of Glory. War movies are typically not my favorite movies to watch because of the sheer amount of action and dialogue that is always shoved into the viewers faces, but Paths of Glory seems to have a different approach. While the first 10 or 15 minutes or so were incredibly dialogue driven, it was not too overwhelming. I also enjoyed how there was a lot of buildup to the action rather than throwing us in it right away. It helped establish tension. One thing I didn't like was that none of the “French” soldiers had French accents let alone spoke French. Some people seemed to have British accents while others had American accents. It was a little all over the place.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that really stuck with me was when the camera showed what the grenade did to one of the soldiers and there was a huge symbol that played in the background. It stuck with me because of how graphic the scene was. The sound that played was also very startling, and I still remember it. Another scene that stuck with me was when the Corporal and a Private were walking through the trenches and asking the soldiers if they were ready to kill more German’s. The reason it stuck with me was because of the comedy of it. War movies aren't usually known for their humor, but this was a pretty funny moment.
I think that Colonel Dax had no choice but to try and take the Ant Hill. General Mireau was going to take it whether or not Dax was going to be the one to lead. He would have had another person come right in and do it. I also think that there was an aspect of pride involved. Even General Mireau didn't want to take the Ant Hill at first but was pressured by his superiors. Both Colonel Dax and General Mireau wanted to prove to others and themselves that they could do something as crazy as take the Ant Hill.
In my opinion, Paths of Glory is a type of movie that you really have to love in order to watch it alone. The first fifteen minutes of the film were not very exciting or entrancing, so I had a hard time investing myself in it. Even though it was in black and white, which I usually do not prefer, I felt as if the movie was still colorful through its language and comedic acting.
ReplyDeleteHours later, I could not stop thinking about the scene where Corporal Paris confronts the drunken Lieutenant Roget about being a coward and killing their fellow soldier. I found this scene very hilarious because it brought life to the cold and dreary atmosphere that the movie is set in. The best part was at the end of the fight when Colonel Dax walks inside of the shelter and the Corporal had to snap back into the army hierarchy that was what started the fight in the first place.
I greatly sympathize with Colonel Dax's dilemma in the movie because he really is in between a 'rock and a hard place'. If he denies General Mireau and does not storm the 'anthill', the General would probably make up some lie to ruin Dax's reputation. If he does storm the 'anthill', as he eventually decides to, he will lose over half of the men that depend on him to lead them. I actually agree with the Colonel's decision because who knows what would have happened to him if he had not complied. I can not blame him for having a self preservation instinct.
Although this might be a strange reaction on my end, the first half of the movie has come across almost as a comedy and possibly a satirical take on the abuse of power and their lack of knowledge of what it is like being on the front lines. General Mireau in his conversation with the Major General took a seemingly hard stance against taking the Ant Hill until he heard the words promotion and then he perked up like a dog when it sees a treat. Following his “reluctant decision”, Mireau visits the trenches and carries himself with a regality and seems to think that he is granting the wishes of the soldiers by allowing them to be in his presence. This was humorous because no one really seemed to care. This may not have been intended but the fickleness of the General’s behavior served as comic relief for me personally
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of moments that stood out to me in this film, but the one I recall most vividly was seemingly ten minute shot of Colonel Dax leading the charge to the Ant Hill. It was filled with gunshots, explosions, soldiers dropping in the most “believable” way possible, and, of course, Colonel Dax blowing his whistle. This was most likely the most expensive shot in the movie due to the amount of explosions and extras used.
He made the right decision given the situation. No matter his choice his men were going to be sent to take the Ant Hill. If he had said no, he would've been sent on leave as his men were slaughtered. On the other hand, saying yes gave him the opportunity to stay with his men and lead them to the best of his ability. This also gave him the chance to step in to represent those who didn't charge in the court martial hearing
I like this movie so far. It is not the type of movie I would normally pick for myself as war movies are not classically my favorite, but this movie has kept me engaged and interested so far. The characters are compelling and make the viewer feel the harshness and unfairness of war while still keeping an action pact, fast paced vibe to the movie.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie does a really good job of camera angles and cinematography. One aspect that stuck with me was how well the shots in the trench were executed. It is really hard to capture all the action with so many characters in such a small space the camera shots really captured the claustrophobic nature of the trenches while still allowing the viewer to see all the action and dialogue from different perspectives. One specific shot that stuck with me was the shot the camera is moving down through the trench from the point of view of the colonel Dax and we see all the soldiers reactions to the him walking through. It was not only a really captivating shot visually but it also gave insight into relationships between soldiers and their commanders.
I don’t think Colonel Dax was right to this, but I think he was put into a very difficult situation in which he couldn't really refuse, so I don't know if I can blame him fully for making the decision he made.
As of where we left off in class on Friday, I have been enjoying the film quite a bit. I was already a bit of a Kubrick fan before watching this film and this has only further cemented in my mind the fact that he is an outstanding director no matter the means at his disposal. In particular I have really been enjoying the shots of the palace that serves as the french battle command center. I think that both the palace and the trenches are beautifully shot and set up a key contrast between the bureaucrats barking orders from on high, and the men who must carry out those orders in the squalor and filth of war.
ReplyDeleteThe elements of the film that have endured in my mind are the ones that best represent the two polar opposites that are the settings for this film. The first being the extreme decadence and luxury of the french palace. Even writing this two days later I can still see every gilded surface, velvet couch and shimmering medal in the room where Dax and Mireau discuss what is to become of the regiment. The other scene that remains with me the most would have to be the bombed out hellscape that the men traverse on the push towards the anthill. The set fit every vivid description I have ever read or seen regarding world war one, my personal favorite part being the shelled out earth filled with water, rats, and corpses.
In the scene where Mireau presents Dax with the order to take the ant hill with his regiment I could not help but feel an overbearing sense of the power dynamics at play and how little choice Dax truly had in the matter. When asked if Dax made the right decision I find that a hard question to answer, because in reality he had no choice at all. Mireau wanted the ant hill taken and has no regard for the safety or humanity of his subordinates. Dax understands this, and realizes that Mireau would have the task completed one way or another, no matter the casualties. Either Dax would take the anthill with his regiment or Mireau would ruin his career and find someone else to do it. I think that Dax made the only decision he could in this situation, to stick with his men until the end and hope to lead them better than someone else could have.
Although I first thought this movie was going to be just another old war movie, it actually turned out to be an interesting film. I think this film separates itself from other war movies because of its ability to keep the viewers glued to the screen by using a combination of dialogue along with action. I really enjoy the plot of the story so far because Kubrick not only gives us a good impression of how World War I was like but he also presents us with conflict between the generals and soldiers. I like this movie because it pairs moral conflict with war conflict which makes the plot absorbing and makes it seem like you could be inside of the movie.
ReplyDeleteI think that the scene with Colonel Dax walking in the trench passed soldiers and then leading them into battle was the scene that stuck with me the most. The sounds of the artillery and Dax’s whistle kept me very involved with the scene. I actually laughed to myself a little during this scene because just like the soldiers on the screen, I would flinch when I heard the artillery land close because it was so loud. I also enjoyed the visual aspect of it because the changing terrain and looking at how the soldiers traveled in it was not like anything I had ever seen in a movie before.
I agree with what a lot of other people have said that Colonel Dax knew he didn't have much of a choice when Mireau asks him to lead the attack. I think that Dax realizes that one way or another, at some point, his men are going to have to take the Ant Hill and there will be quite a number of lives lost. Overall, I think that Colonel Dax makes the right decision to agree to lead the attack even though he doesn't like to think about how many men he will lose.
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ReplyDelete1. I like the movie because it takes a look at serval difficult questions. Where is the line that divides responsibility and duty from morality and humanness? What drives people? It also shows that even in the most polarizing of wars, the “good” guys and “bad” guys are not always who they seem to be. It also questions patriotism, a seemingly good quality, in the context of war and sacrifice. I like that we are meant to think about these questions and dilemmas as the movie goes on. I don’t know how it ends, so I cannot say what Kubrick has to say about all of this.
ReplyDelete2. The lighting was very striking. Since it was black and white, much of the imagery depends on contrast. The night scene where they go out on patrol stuck with me. The use of the flare to momentarily unveil the dead bodies was very powerful. It also fits the mood of the movie, as it is set during a stressful attack in a world war.
3. I think Dax finally decides to take the anthill because General Mireau forces him to. When Dax and Mireau are discussing taking the anthill Dax says that it is impossible to take the anthill. Then, as a response, Mireau personally insults Dax by saying that he is “tired.” This is a jab at his competency. What really sends Dax over the edge is when Mireau threatens to take Dax away from his men. Dax doesn’t want to leave his wounded (both physically and mentally) men behind. He feels a certain duty towards his men and doesn’t want them to go into battle without him.
For someone who usually doesn't enjoy war films, I found the first half of Paths of Glory surprisingly gripping. I was impressed by way in which Stanley Kubrick used stark, contrasting visuals to express emotion that pushes the audience to really feel for the characters in the film. As Colonel Dax walks the length of the trench before his men attack Ant Hill, the audience sees mostly grey and black lighting, as well as thick smaug that clouds any view of beyond. The gloomy imagery constructs an unvarnished viewpoint of war. I also appreciated that Kubrick included satiric moments even though the film is about a very serious subject. During his “moral boosting” parade, General Mireau cheerily asked multiple soldiers if they were “ready to kill more Germans.” The irony of Mireau’s tone of voice compared to the surrounding imagery of war is comedic.
ReplyDeleteThis scene is also the part of the film that has stuck with me the most. Not only did Mireau’s walk through the trenches provide comedic relief, but it also highlighted the general’s callous indifference toward the soldiers’ wellbeing. He asked everyone the same generic question and reacted brutally to a shell shocked soldier. The sharp, resonant background noises of bombs and gunfire dramatize the scene and add to the memorability as well.
Colonel Dax didn't necessarily make the right or wrong choice by leading his men out of the trenches. Given his status and the pressures put on him I don't think Dax had an option. It was ultimately Mireau who made the wrong call of commanding the soldiers to attack, especially since he knew it would fail and lives would be lost.
I was not expecting this movie to grab my attention the way it does. Normally, war movies are not the first thing I would choose to watch, and the few that I have seen blur together in my mind as being a mess of gunshots and graphic scenes. “Paths of Glory” stands out from other wartime movies due to it's more established plot which focuses on more than just the battles. Maybe it's because we are only halfway through the film, but this movie has been more dialogue packed, than the same loud action scenes standard of war movies. I am enjoying this movie and invested in the characters. I thought it was interesting there doesn't seem to be a main character of the film but rather the conflict of the Anthill that propels the plot. I noticed how there were no females at all and i'm curious to see if that changes as the movie concludes.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard for me to believe that a movie could be executed this well with such a small budget. Like many people have already pointed out, the scene in the trench is incredibly powerful and well executed. The view out of the trench with bombs exploding really helps to put trench war in perspective. To me, this was the best visually executed scene of what we’ve seen. The scene of the charge of the Anthill was also very impressive, especially with the knowledge of the low budget this film had. The constant sounds of war and visuals of men dropping every second creates a image to last., because this is the first time i've seen a war scene accurately depicting the number of casualties and help to put it into perspective.
I don't think that the Colonel did the right thing agreeing, knowing that this means he will lose more than half his men. However, I think that I would have made the the same decision placed in his shoes. As people have observed, saying no to Miraeu would have resulted in the loss of him job and the charge would still have occured. The colonel was placed in a difficult position and stayed loyal to his duty to lead his men.
ReplyDeleteI rarely watch old movies, so watching a part of this film was already something different that I experienced. Towards the beginning of the movie, when General Broulard and General Mireau were talking, it was a little hard for me to understand the dialogue and the feel of the movie, mostly because I’m not familiar with war terminology and war movies in general. But as the movie went on, I really enjoyed it because I was able to see a visual representation of the environment of World War I: the trenches, the explosions, the war tactics.
Something that I disliked in this movie was that the acting was sometimes mediocre. For example, in the famous scene when Colonel Dax led his army to the Ant Hill, there were explosions that were occurring next to some men which caused them to fall and die. But in that scene, some men would randomly fall, even if there wasn’t an explosion that happened next to them. For me, when that happened, it snapped me out of the trance that the movie put me in.
The famous scene where Colonel Dax led his army to the Ant Hill was, of course, an amazing scene, mostly because it really captured the visuals and the feel of World War I. But for me, the scene that I still remember is when the three men go out during the night time to attack, and then one of them goes farther on the battlefield while the other two hide behind a small hill. They all wait for a while, but the man who left shows no sign that he is still alive. Then of the men, who is in a higher position than the other two men, throws a grenade. After waiting a while longer, they go out to see what happened to the man who left, and sure enough, the grenade that one of the men threw killed him. I can still clearly visualize the man who was killed by the grenade, how his body was positioned, and the smoke coming off the ground from the grenade. That shot of the man’s dead body reminds me of the Tom and Jerry cartoon because I can compare it to when the cat, Tom, was hit by an explosive. The reason why this part of the movie stuck with me so much was because the plot of that short scene was so interesting that it pulled me into the movie. When the two men were waiting for the other man to come back, even I felt anxious waiting along with them.
Colonel Dax was obviously forced into using his men to take the Ant Hill. After General Mireau heard Colonel Dax’s reference to Samuel Johnson’s quote, he became infuriated and threatened to take away Colonel Dax’s position. From this scene, you can tell what Colonel Dax’s opinions on patriotism are. I think that when Colonel Dax says “patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel,” he means that dishonest men use patriotism as an excuse to do anything or push other people into doing anything. By this, you can tell that he is not very supportive of the idea of war or patriotism. But as for his decision, even though he was forced into it, I don’t believe he was right to do it. Risking the majority of your men’s lives to take on the Ant Hill is not a smart decision, because Colonel Dax was not even sure if they were going to be able to take it on. If there was a more strategic way to handle this problem instead of blindly barging in and simply hoping that you would reach the Ant Hill, it would have been more effective and saved more lives in the long run.
I really enjoyed the first half of this movie, even though I thought the beginning was a little slow. The movie was overall pretty well made, and the cinematography was great for the most part. I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this movie the way I have, as I've never really liked the big violent war movies of today. However, Paths of Glory isn't just a war movie. It had some really funny scenes, some really interesting scenes, and some really weird scenes. The scene that stuck with me the most was that of the shell shocked soldier in the trenches when General Mireau is making his rounds, trying to pump up the soldiers. Also, even this movie did have its fare share of gory and gross moments, I'm really enjoying the movie so far and I'm excited to finish the rest.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the movie is gorgeous especially for its small budget, and I think that makes it just that much more impressive. The most striking scene in the film to me is the one in the very beginning in the giant house where General Mireau is trying to convince Dax to take the Ant Hill. The set is absolutely beautiful and the black and white just makes it look so much better (not that they had an alternative.)
As for Dax making the decision to attack the Ant Hill, I honestly don't think he had much of a choice. He knew he would probably lose half his men, but the general had threatened to fire him and Dax knew that if he were fired, the general would put someone else in charge of his men to take the ant hill. I think Dax didn't want to abandon his men and knowing that half of them were probably going to die either way, he decided that he wanted to be with them. I think this was a very difficult decision for him to make but Dax said that his men come first.
1. I love this movie because of the way it conveys the relationship between Generals and their soldiers. The movie shows that Mireau is apathetic towards his soldiers as shown he orders Dax to take the ant hill. Dax knows it is impossible because his men will be slaughtered by the German artillery, but that doesn’t convince Mireau to cancel the attack. Mireau gets to make orders from a desk while his soldiers are in the trenches fearing for their lives. Mireau is emotionally separated from his soldiers which makes it easier for him to order his attacks. This theme is very similar to that of Gallipoli where Archie’s general orders his men to defeat the other side, but the situation is impossible to accomplish because the austrialians keep getting slaughtered by Turkish artillery. Overall the movie is very well paced and it keeps the audience engaged. Some older movies are very slow because people had a larger attention span. Nowadays, a movie has to hook the audience for people to keep watching it or otherwise the audience will get bored. This movie is thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were many small conflicts between infantry soldiers and conflict between superior authorities. Overall, this movie was made very well by one of the greatest directors of all time, Stanley Kubrick.
ReplyDelete2. My favorite scene was the attack scene where the French troops swarm the battlefield to take the ant hill. The use of long shots is used very to capture the hundreds of soldiers struggling and vying to obtain the impossible feat. From an aesthetic point of view, the panning makes the scene look fluid as it follows the soldiers. However, from a thematic point of view, it depicts the horror of the lives being lost in this battle. The soldiers are picked off one by one, like ants being crushed by a person’s thumb. It really shows how much Mireau doesn’t understand the severity of the situation. While he is hiding up in his tent giving orders, he fails to see that his men are getting massacred by the german machine guns. Soldiers were falling left and right in this scene which helped the audience understand that Dax’s soldiers didn’t stand a chance in taking the ant hill.
3. Dax didn’t want someone else to replace him because he didn’t want the morale of soldiers to decrease. The soldiers’ confidence was already at an all time low, and it would have made it worse if their leader wasn’t there beside them. Dax has already been through so much with these men, and it would break him to see his men die at the hands of someone else’s order. Also, the soldiers are more likely to hesitate when an order is given by another colonel because they don’t trust him. If Dax were commanding them, they would do what he says quicker because they know he is doing his job well, and they trust him. Dax is responsible for his men, and he will always fight beside his own soldiers.
I really like the movie. Even without 21st century special effects, they still produce a pretty realistic battle scene. What really make this movie special are the lead characters. Kirk Douglas plays Dax, an extremely intelligent, moral, and successful man who fights with the common men on the battlefield. Then we have the General Mireau. The general represents the upper class, and repeats the common rhetoric of the top of society during war. He looks at the men as numbers rather then human lives, and represents the corruption in war. Paths of Glory uses these compelling characters to represent different common themes in war, and use specific events to explore these themes. It is great to watch and I am excited to see what will happen next.
ReplyDeleteThe juxtaposition of the trench warfare with the castle where the general resides really stayed with me. Both scenes are beautifully done. The trenches portray the horrifying conditions for a lower class soldier in war, and through the castle we see the incredible fun and luxury that comes along with being an upper class person in war.
I agree it was necessary for him to lead the attack. If he had refused, they would have found someone else to lead, and he would essentially be abandoning his men. Unlike the other successful men we have seen in war in this movie, Dax cares deeply about his men and leaving their side, even for some greater good, would go against everything he stands for. He is still an extremely moral man, which he will prove in the treason trial.
Paths of Glory took a couple of minutes for me to be really invested in it. At the beginning it was quite slow and hard to get wrapped up in, but as it went on I found that I got really invested in the characters and the bluntness with witch the story was told. Once we were introduced to the possible murder plot and the very different connections between commanders and soldiers it was much easier to watch. For the first part it felt as though we were just watching a bunch of old men play chess, but as it went on we actually got to see the effects of their decisions. I liked how it showed the manipulation that was used to get people to take action. One scene that I liked in particular was when General Mireau was manipulated into commanding his men to take the anthill. He ardently refused to take is but when a promotion and talks of bravery was inserted into the conversation he willingly took is despite knowing that he was likely to lose so many of his men. He then turned around and threatened Colonel Dax’s job in order to make him take the Anthill. These manipulations killed many men over the course of just a couple of hours.
ReplyDeleteOne scene that especially stood out to me was when all of the men were running across no man’s land in order to take the anthill. The gruesomeness and the realness of them running over the bodies of their fallen friends really struck me because it was something that people really had to go through during the war. The constant sound of machine guns was something that was also hard to let go of. For years that was many people reality. The scene that was right after that was also really interesting. Men who waited in the trenches to go out and attack witnessed their comrades get mowed down by the enemy but were still expected to leave the trenches. They weren’t there to have minds of their own or to survive, they were their to be mindless soldiers that some general could push around as he pleased. They were all expected to sacrifice their lives for something that everybody knew was destined to be doomed after the first few minutes. The realisation that these men weren’t considered soldiers, but pawns, really stuck with me.
Even though accepting the mission to take the Anthill was likely to kill over half of his men I believe that Colonel Dax was right in taking the mission. He is obviously very protective of his men, believing that he knows what is best for them and how to protect them. That is what I believe this act of compliance was; a chance to protect his men and cause as little death as he could. The general threatened to send him on leave when he began to refuse the mission. Colonel Dax must have been well aware of the fact that if he didn’t accept the mission General Mireau would find somebody who was more power hungry and willing to carry out the mission. In deciding to go through with the attack he was able to protect his men better than he could have if he wasn't there at all. At the end he was even able to convince the general that placing 100 men under trial with the penalty of death would be too grotesque and that trying only three men would send the same message. He was able to protect his men because he took accepted the order to send them to slaughter.
I really liked what we saw of this movie in class on Friday. I think this movie does a great job of showing the relationships between different ranking soldiers and how they interact with each other. I agree with what Jordyn said, this is probably the most realistic portrayal of a no man's land, trench warfare battle I have ever seen and I loved it. While watching, the audience knows what’s going to happen in a general sense, but is still kept on the edge of their seats, and always looking from place to place on the screen. I enjoyed that because if kept me engaged and interested and wanting to catch everything that was happening.
ReplyDeleteA scene that really stuck with me was the scene when three French soldiers were given an order to spy on the German base. One was a higher ranking soldier and the other seemed to be both the same rank. When the higher ranking soldier ordered one of the lower ranks to continue forward on his own while he and the second lower ranking soldier stayed behind to cover him. At the end of that scene, the higher ranking soldier gets too scared to stay and cover. Thinking the lower ranking soldier must have been killed, he throws a hand grenade toward the German base and runs back to the French trenches. The camera then shows that the grenade thrown by the French soldier killed the lower ranking soldier who had been sent to continue on his own. The fact that all of that action was portrayed without the 21st century special effects technology we have today is outstanding.
My initial thoughts to Colonel Dax attacking The Ant Hill was that he didn’t have much choice. Dax did fight Mireau on this idea, but Mireau clearly wasn’t going to change his mind. It seemed to me like disagreed with the idea up until Mireau had laid out the plan to him, and even then he was not in agreement with the attack. I think Colonel Dax made the right decision in listening to his superiors orders, even though I wish he hadn’t had to go against his own gut feelings
This movie was one of the first black and white movies I really enjoyed. The first scene to stand out to me was the conversation between the two generals. The cameras show this really large estate, revealing it was General Mireau’s mansion. Even devoid of color it exhumes luxury and a sense of grandeur. Broulard and Mireau, old general friends, have met to discuss a battle plan that really becomes a matter of manipulation and pride. I really could not tell Mireau’s intentions in accepting the attack on behalf of his men, other than having a sense of pride concerning his troops. On the other hand, Broulard manipulated Mireau multiple times, and the gestures of circling around the room, seat, and door cleverly displayed what was really happening. I personally love the Colonel Dax. He is the moral pinnacle of a soldier, commanding his soldiers with a great ethical sense into battle, not staying away from the battlefield. He is the first soldier to leave the trenches and one of the last to return. The battle scene was far more realistic compared to most battle scene I have seen in movies. There’s no time for dramatic moments, the pace is extremely fast, soldiers are dying on all sides, and the cinematography is great, taking into consideration the time period. I think the scene with Merdeau ordering his soldiers to kill traitors and their subsequent defiance(though indirect) brought a nice sense to respect common soldiers, and a plot for the next acts of the movie. The multiple antagonists in the movie are appreciated, as evil in real life can be found from in front or behind enemy lines. Overall, this first half really intrigued me, and I can’t wait to watch the second half of the film.
ReplyDeleteTo further elaborate on what I explained in the first question, I was taken back by the shots of the palaces and mansions in the film. In most movies about war, the setting consists of grimy, depressing, and gory locations. While we do see that in this film, we see the military headquarters of France, and how stunning they are. I believe the estates in the film might have been a finiancial budget, but perhaps I am wrong. After all, that was a relatively large budget. Either way the contrast of scenery between the castles of the generals and the trenches/battlefield gave a clear indication of who we are supposed to root for in the film.
I believe that Colonel Dax was in a position that cannot be defined as simply right or wrong. He realized that the attack would have killed most of his men, but still followed orders, the basic duty of a soldier. He valiantly lead his men into battle, although he knew they would die. Morally that was wrong but in the terms of following a soldier’s duty(which is another discussion in itself), he followed orders until the end. Additionally, he was the morale center of his troops, so I don’t believe he could be replaced either. I think Dax is a just man, and more so than most officers, but I don’t know if he was in the right for commencing the attack.
I definitely enjoyed the first half of the movie. The writing was clever and biting, the characters were intriguing and well developed, and the plot moved quickly, but not so fast as to where it was difficult to follow. I thought that the actions scenes were surprisingly well filmed for the time period and for the budget of the film. I felt as though the movie did a good job of portraying the frustrating stalemates and overall pointlessness of the First World War. The one thing that I disliked about the movie was that
ReplyDeleteThe General’s response to hearing that his troops refused to charge into No Man’s Land where he said that “if they wouldn’t face German bullets, they would face French bullets” was a really iconic moment for me. I thought that it summed up his arrogant and self righteous attitude. He clearly cared much more his career than about his men, but he still took the time to visit the soldiers in the trenches. Another moment that stuck out to me was when one of the men was clearly suffering from a severe case of post traumatic stress disorder, referred to as shell shock at the time, and the General slapped him and claimed that shell shock did not exist. The sound of constant explosions also stuck out to me because it drove home the point of how chaotic the war was.
Although I don’t really agree with the Colonel’s decision to agree to take the Ant Hill but I think that I would have done this same if I was in his position. He would definitely have been dishonorably discharged if not executed if he disobeyed. For that reason I think that his decision was justified.
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ReplyDeleteI missed the first half of this section of the film, but the things I saw still greatly impacted me. I came in during the war scene and it was very powerful. I've seen my fair share of war movies and never paid much attention to the battles. I think I tend to disassociate myself from them because I mentally can't relate to the idea and feelings of being at war — mostly because I have never had to live through one. For some reason this time it stood out more than the rest because I was really paying attention to the people. There were so many bodies and those bodies had a whole life and story behind them that we don't know about. To the viewers watching the film, they're just bodies to represent war, but during the actual war those were actual people who were killed. There was one scene I remember where a soldier was running through a trench and put his hand on a dead body to help push himself upwards. I remember thinking how could he just do that? It then made me realize how so many of these men just aren't effected by seeing the dead anymore. I then started to feel even more sad because so many men just lost their lives and many of the generals just saw them as objects. The generals didn't view them as people who had families and a story to tell. I especially felt sad when the general ordered an attack on his own men. I think the whole scene to me was very surreal.