Connections

Man and women? Plug and socket? No…Barker, O’Brien and Coppola

The Ghost Road, written by Pat Barker, is a compelling novel that uses both fictional and real characters, as well as a gripping World War 1 and Melanesian setting to express a wide array of ideas. All of these ideas, such as the futility of war and the exploitation of the young and the working class, are also displayed in many differing texts/films – all of which achieve the portrayal of these ideas/themes in different ways. Such mediums include ‘The Things They Carried’ by Tim O’Brien, ‘Apocalypse Now’ directed by Francis Ford Coppola, ‘Jarhead’ directed by Sam Mendes and even comedic films like ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ starring Robyn Williams.

Like a lot of texts/films that have a war setting, Pat Barker produced a novel, ‘The Ghost Road’, which successfully criticizes the First World War by expressing the idea that war is futile. In the novel, the last battle scene describes a situation were Prior’s (main character) men must fight against tremendous odds in-order to capture German territory. Such are the odds that Marshal of the Ten Wounds, an absolute hero and patriotic warrior, speaks out against the upcoming battle saying that it is not worth it. In the end all of Priors men including him die. This situation is very similar in the film, ‘Apocalypse Now’, directed by Francis Coppola. A scene titled, The ‘Du Long Bridge’, is presented as a very surreal and exaggerated place. After Willard (main character) exits his boat he tries to find the commanding officer (CO). It is soon realized that there is no CO, this lack of command in a pivotal area illustrates this pointlessness of war. Furthermore, the dialogue of a character named Chief strengths this point by saying…

“We build it every night. Charlie blows it right back up again. Just so the generals can

say the road's open. Think about it. Who cares?”

These few words along with the scene of the “Du Long Bridge” are a main reason ‘Apocalypse Now’ is known to be anti-war film. The idea of the futility of war is shown in so many more films such as, ‘Jarhead’, ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’, ‘Tigerland’, ‘The Fog of War’, and one of my favorites ‘Dr. Strangelove’.

The question that must now be asked is what is the point of anti war texts? In each of the mentioned texts, one of intentions of the author/director has been to express this idea of the futility of war – thus creating an anti-war text/film. I believe that these kinds of films, and others that comment on societies possible flaws, are vital. Not only do they educate and help highlight the atrocities of war but they support and give face to many individuals that do not support war. In a sense, our society has given room for these films/texts to be created meaning that we crave them. I feel that these films/texts are key as who knows how much influence they have on the leaders of our world.