Student Chosen Topic #2 - Adam Paquette

 Saving Private Ryan 04/30/2021 - Last night I decided to rewatch the film, Saving Private Ryan, and there were some things I did not notice much until after taking this class. The first being the film as a religious movie. In the beginning, as soldiers were running onto the beach getting killed, there were many men holding rosaries and praying at the top of their lungs. Even the sniper throughout the film said prayers as he shot at the enemy and kissed his cross necklace before going into action. In addition, all of these men did not want to go on the mission to save Private Ryan. However, by the end of the film majority of them ended up dying and saw honor in it and hoped that Private Ryan lives a good life in order to "earn it." Similar to the Thin Red Line, the sacred and profane were evident throughout the film. The sacred being present in nature (the trees, grass, rain) adding a sense of beauty. The profane was obviously present in the midst of the firing of guns, tanks, explsotions, the crumbling of cities, and etc.. Lastly, all of the soldiers had time to reminisce on home and family life (remembering their family and what life was like). I believe the thought of family and friends gave them a sense of meaning. What I mean by that is give them reason to fight and come back home. This was evident of the scene of the soldiers in the church sleeping and just before the finals scenes of the fight at the bridge. This is where Private Ryan shared his story of him and his brothers, which brought laughs and smiles. In addition, it allowed him to picture his brothers, who died in action.

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