The Thin Red Line- Duncan Owen

 

Released in 1998, the film The Thin Red Line depicts soldiers fighting a battle on the Guadalcanal Island. Throughout the film, there are mass causalities, and many soldiers experience and witness death occur for the first time. One of the captains, Private Robert Witt, is afraid of death and greatly dislikes it. However, throughout the film, Witt experiences a change in heart. Witt’s change in heart due to overcoming the fear of death is similar to Arjuna’s path and the sublime. One of the warriors that serves under the Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita god, Arjuna is accused of hiding in fear when asked to participate in battle. Krishna orders Arjuna to complete his duty, similar to how Witt is asked to complete his duties as a Private and order his men to fight. Through his ability to overcome his fears, he encounters the sublime. Additionally, throughout the film, the filmmaker uses nature and war symbolically through the use of the scenery as aspects of the battle. As a part of their fight, members are hiding in ditches and trenches, whilst launching ammunition into the air against the opposing side.

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