“Hacksaw Ridge” is a beautiful, messy contradiction of a film. Directed by Mel Gibson, it tells a story of healing and faith in the midst of the bloodiest war in human history.
Based on the true story of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield), this isn’t your average war film.
Doss’s tale is truly extraordinary. Despite his religious objections to violence or even touching a gun, he chose to enlist as a medic during WWII. After countless personal and legal hurtles, he was allowed to go into battle completely unarmed.
Shipped to Japan to fight in the Battle of Okinawa, he proved that you can save lives without taking any. Single handedly he save over 75 lives. While the rest of his company retreated over the ridge, he stayed helping the injured on both sides of the battle.
It’s a story that questions the contradictions of faith and war. It raises the question faced by all who choose to serve—what place do personal values and beliefs have in war?
The film doesn’t shy away from the violence. If anything, the atrocities committed by both sides seem that much more horrifying when contrasted with the actions of this one remarkable individual.
…just for fun:
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