MovieChat Forums > 'Breaker' Morant (1980) Discussion > Timeless

Timeless

posted 18 years ago by AirborneRanger
12 replies | jump to latest

When I was at Fort Leavenworth for the advanced staff officers course, this movie was widely discussed. What a great film. Timeless in its handiling of the morals and morality of handling of prisoners in a guerilla war. This film is just as applicable today, as it was in the Boer War. The issue is between what is accepted by the command and what is executed on the ground. It highlights what we distinguish between the high moral ground and on the ground reality. A good flick and a good line of departure for discussion of morality in war.

[–] Jeffthinx 18 years ago

Good post AirbourneRanger,
Begs the question whether the charges on which the Nurnburg war criminals were tried were valid...or was it "victors' justice". I'd like to think that I would be strong enough to refuse to obey a directive (written or implied) which I thought morally wrong (even though I did NOT refuse to serve in the military during my Viet Nam era youth). Many are not strong enough to deal with such moral issues. Does that mean they deserve a pass? I think not. The outrage is that, while such behavior clearly involves the complicity of superiors, no one has the balls to hold those superiors accountable. And so those whose job it is to hold the superiors to account are also thereby complicit. And we who elect them repeatedly are also complicit. We get the society we deserve.

[–] ProdigySportsman 18 years ago

I was told by a Major, and fellow officer, this movie was a must see for any warrior. I am waiting to check it out of the library. Semper Fi.

soundcreation7 on 'wu xia'
"yeah, which basically means 'jesus kung fu'"

[–] AirborneRanger 18 years ago

You hit on some key points here. Often we turn a blind eye to such acts of murder, cinematically think of Captain Miller (Saving Private Ryan) after watching the GIs shoot two soldiers trying to surrender. I would suggest that it is hard to keep an eye on everyone or to try and police your own troops while trying to accomplish the mission and avoid getting your own ass shot off. I also think that in the heat of the moment, everything becomes personal. I would also submit that in cases like Abu Ghraib, where it was not combat, but similar atrocities, that the chain of command should have been aware of what was going on. Even on the midnight crew, there should have been a Staff Sergeant, SFC or Lieutenant on duty minding the store. Such an oversight or blind eye should have also had consequences.

[–] ProdigySportsman 18 years ago

In the Ethics class I was required to take Abu Ghraib was a required case study. You talk about more supervision, at least a (1st) Lt knew what was going on but was a bystander.

soundcreation7 on 'wu xia'
"yeah, which basically means 'jesus kung fu'"

[–] rwsmith29456 16 years ago

The My Lai massacre in Vietnam is a good dicussion point.

[–] Ele-Friend 16 years ago

This is a great movie.
Some things never change, especially the higher-ups' refusal to take the blame for poor decision making and poor morale. It's the little guys that always get it.
Well worth watching this movie. You won't regret it.

[–] Vodka_Sour 15 years ago

You won't regret it.

[–] soue37-1 15 years ago

I've just finished watching this film a few moments ago, and I've got to agree it's certainly a brilliant thought provoking film. Definately worth checking out if you haven't seen it.

It's also stands up very well made for a film released nearly thirty years ago.

[–] mhasheider 14 years ago

I finally got around to watching the movie on TCM a few years ago before the Oscars and I'll admit it's great and the ending is a "absolute heart-breaker".

[–] braveheart814 10 years ago

A very good movie but not great. Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is a great movie of similar subject matter.

[–] bear022013-909-645034 10 years ago

You live with this film until you die.As fine as it was I could
never stomach White men killing one another,by the millions.
From America's Civil War,WW1,WW2,Australians having to "put up"
with Abo's...Everyone killing Russians and Germans when the negro
now kills whites for fun.....everyday in USA.I am ashamed of killing Vietnamese soldiers.

[–] bear022013-909-645034 10 years ago