Path of Glory: Human Beings

Hailey 2022-04-21 09:01:27

Harsh wars cannot completely erase human nature, and the ability to be moved, that is, to have feelings, is the basic of human beings.

"Path of Glory" shows the struggle between humans and inhumans. In the purgatory of war, "humans" are suppressed.

When General Samsung is not for long-term victory needs, but a temporary politician's consideration, he decides to launch an attack that is destined to lose troops, and wishful thinking calculates how many percent of the lost soldiers can reach the enemy's trench, and how many percent of the soldiers are lost. Can defeat the enemy, how many percent of the soldiers can defend the newly occupied high ground in the final loss, the person who calculates can not be called a person, and the person who is calculated can not be called a person.

When the two-star division commander observed the line of fire in the shelter, he found that many soldiers were stranded in the trenches and failed to charge. He ordered the artillery to bombard his own positions in a rage, and wanted to use death to drive the soldiers into the battlefield. for people.

When the three soldiers became "sacrificial sacrifices" for defeat, they were sent to court for scribbling convictions and sent to the execution ground for solemn execution because of the reason of killing one and a hundred.

Also, a group of wretched soldiers surrounded the weeping singer (the singer seemed to be Kubrick's wife), knocking on wine glasses, whistling, and swearing vulgarly, looking like a lively monkey mountain full of hozens.

Who can be called human?

The official slipped away, and his comrades did not know whether to live or die. It was dangerous to take a step forward, and it was safe to take a step back. He could investigate bravely without hesitation, and shoulder the responsibility to his comrades. He can be called a person.

If the superior has a disorderly order, he will immediately dismiss it. Föck, the teacher is not good either. They are rational and dare to resist irrational orders. They can be called people.

The superiors are fucked, I can't follow the fuck; the subordinates are wronged, I can't watch them be wronged; the boss takes the official hat, you are wrong, what I want is justice, refuse. A team leader who has both benevolence and righteousness, how can he not be called a person?

There are also the soldiers, the singer is beautiful, the nationality is the enemy's, the lyrics are in German, they don't understand, but the singing is nice, the melody is sad, and the soldiers are moved. This shows that they have the ability to appreciate music. This further shows that harsh wars cannot completely erase human nature, and the ability to be moved, that is, to have feelings, is the basic of human beings.

In the last scene, Kubrick deliberately promoted the truth, goodness and beauty of human nature. Although, the soldiers will set foot on the Shura field again. Kubrick does not seem to be completely anti-war, like "Path of Glory", he is against meaningless sacrifices, inhuman sacrifices, especially giving sacrifices.

Digression, the cruelty of the "meat grinder" in the trenches on the Western Front of World War I cannot be compared to the description in "Road to Glory". In the 1950s, everyone made films with kindness, far from today, when they portrayed cruelty nakedly.

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Extended Reading
  • Angel 2022-03-25 09:01:06

    Don't doubt God's will, these satanic officers were sent by God to carry out the divine will; the display of patriotism must rely on anti-human means; the soldiers who rushed to the dust and looked at death in their own homes burst into tears? You deserve it, who told you not to die on the battlefield; "We will fight to win the war, those people did not fight, so they were killed", killing soldiers leads to victory. Seen the best of Kubrick so far.

  • Gideon 2021-10-22 14:41:47

    Gentlemen of the court, there are times that I'm ashamed to be a member of the human race and this is one such occasion.

Paths of Glory quotes

  • General Broulard: Colonel Dax, you're a disappointment to me. You've spoiled the keenness of your mind by wallowing in sentimentality. You really did want to save those men, and you were not angling for Mireau's command. You are an idealist... and I pity you as I would the village idiot. We're fighting a war, Dax, a war that we've got to win. Those men didn't fight, so they were shot. You bring charges against General Mireau, so I insist that he answer them. Wherein have I done wrong?

    Colonel Dax: Because you don't know the answer to that question. I pity you.

  • Corporal Paris: [the condemned men are awaiting execution] See that cockroach?

    [cutaway to the cockroach]

    Corporal Paris: Tomorrow morning, we'll be dead, and it'll be alive. It'll have more contact with my wife and child than I will. I'll be nothing, and it'll be alive.

    Private Ferol: [Ferol smashes the roach with his hand and adds with smiling sarcasm] Now you've got the edge on him!