Is War Worth It?
Every day, of every month, of every year, the media reiterates the fact that there is a war raging on in some forlorn country. The countless victims are but numbers to us. 151 people died in Afghanistan. 23 children shot in Nigeria. As a society, we have become desensitized to the effects of war. Nevertheless, movies, poems and novels constantly remind us of the horrors of battle. Gallipoli directed by Peter Weir, and These Fought in Any Case, by Ezra Pound, illustrate the need to condemn war, because the effects it has on, not only, the soldiers, but their families and humanity at large.
In the historical sense, Gallipoli was a tragic event; many men's lives were taken, needlessly. The movie also carries the same tragic air, which gives the viewer insight into what the true experiences of war were, from an Australian perspective. It shows the eagerness of the Australian people to aid its mother country, England, in a war that they were most likely ignorant to.
The security cages at the United States Army Disci...
English: Peter Weir at an independent film festiva...
Auburn Gallipoli MosqueHowever, a greater theme in this movie is the development of both Frank and Archie's friendship and how that effects the viewer's perception of the conclusion. It is essential to notice that Gallipoli compares optimistic, simple Archie with experienced and rational Frank. Archie, innocently, thinks that joining the army will give him the opportunity to become a better runner, a chance give service to his country, and experience the adventure that is war. Being so young, he does not think of the prospect of death. Conversely, Frank has lived longer and refuses to enlist because British soldiers killed his grandfather. They meet and become friends due to their mutual respect for each other's athleticism.
In a way, the ending makes one think about the outcome if Archie...