Paschendaele by Paul Gross

Over leave out, whilst 'Saving Private Ryan' had put me in the war mood, I decided to watch a relevent movie and chose 'Paschendaele'. 'Paschedaele' is a film written by Paul Gross and is based on the true Story of his Grandfather, Michael Joseph Dunne who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Paschendaele or otherwise know as the third battle of Ypres July and Novemeber 1917. Like many other veterans from the war including Stephen in 'Bridsong', Dunne was reticent about telling his stories from the war. Gross's inspiration for the film came from a rare conversation on a fishing trip with his grandfather in which he told the story of how he had killed a young german solider who had watering eyes by bayonetting him in the forehead. A long time later as Dunne lay dying in a hospital bed, his family was mystified by his behaviour as he asked for forgivness over and over. It was however, only Gross who knew what he was talking about and that all he desired was forgivness from the soldier he had killed so brutally.

Although the film itself intertwines the stories of Dunne, his nurse girlfriend and a young soldier, elements of this story are very prevalent throughout. The raw emotional power and imagery present in the film harks back to the idea of humanity or lack of. The measures to which soldiers were pushed to were so dire that it would appear that in such an enviroment, humanity is lost and thus, leading people to become human butchers like Dunne. It is only when, in a state on security that the guilt comes and troubles people forever, perhaps reflecting shell shock that had never been overcome.

Owen's 'Dulce et Decorem est' is simailar in that it reflects the poets own tormented dreams, the major symptom of his shell shock over the death of the gassed soldier. It conveys the horror and futility of dying for ones state. Dunne it would appear yearns for peace mentally after four years of war. In 'Enemies', Owen displays the truth that humans must see past hatred and conflict. the two enemies in the poem recognise that they must see the war as a pity and seek greater love for one another. Dunne realises this and pleads before he dies for forgivness.

This film encaptures scenes from the trenches and it is not too horrendously gory. The juxtaposition of a heart renching love story in the shadow of war, makes the film very moving. I would highly recomend it.