Analysis on Film Hacksaw Ridge

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of nurse, is dressed in white uniform and in, of course, beautiful appearance. In this very first scene, Dorothy is portrayed with the traits of purity and benevolence, which are the christian values of volunteerism that Doss has been after. Another significant scene, which is also put on the advertising poster of this film, is perfectly emphasizing on the theme of belief in volunteerism. In this scene, before the eighth attack to Hacksaw Ridge, Doss is standing alone holding a Bible and praying, while all the other soldiers are gathering together aside waiting for him to finish praying for them. The separation between Doss and other soldiers is implying two different wars: soldiers’ war of killing people and Doss’s war of saving people, though they are sharing the very same aim of defending their country. The item Bible and the seemingly contradicting wars of Doss’s and soldiers’ well support the idea that volunteerism, derived from christian essence of American culture, has such inestimable strength to hold a single ordinary man to make heroic achievement, even ironically in a war.

Moreover, the camera work does contribute greatly to the theme of this film. The profoundest shooting scene for me is where Doss is rescued from the Hacksaw Ridge after the eighth attack. When they are using a lifting machine to carry Doss off the ridge, the camera shows Doss firstly from a low angle, then medium, then high, then medium, and lastly remained low. The alterations in the shooting angle are indicating audience’s judgement on Doss, that Doss’s character is firstly contempt, then understood, judged again, and then admired for sure. As mentioned before, what moves the audience the most is the constant growth and changes in characters. Therefore, Doss’s image, after several struggles, is set as a heroic, complete, mature man, as noble as in the low angle scene. The soldiers’, commanders’, and even the audience’s eventual admitting on Doss’s belief in volunteerism, once again, contributes to prove volunteerism’s strength and Americans’ valuing in it.

According to the statements and supporting evidences above, I would conclude that the film Hacksaw Ridge, with all its well-rounded plot, skillful techniques and excellent performance, could be considered as a wonderful film promoting volunteerism as a christian-based value in American culture.

MLA

"Hacksaw Ridge(2016)." IMDB, www.imdb.com/title/tt2119532/?ref_=nv_sr_1. Accessed 27 Oct. 2017.

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