1945 in the collapsing Nazi Germany, 15 year old schoolboys are appointed to the defence of their home town's village bridge.
In 105 minutes we are presented the entire war; the birth and self-suffocation of nationalistic fanaticism, the innocent ardour turned into shattered morality.
The plot carries through with a steady pace and the rhythm makes the piece very approachable -- even American. The scenes start from day-to-day lives and we are confronted with real people, with real human conflicts and real human worldviews. By the end, the drama of the plot is made very much second with your emotions towards the people on the screen.
Suddenly the reasons for the war seem clear. Shouldn't you have done that earlier, by now you stop hoping to find someone to blame.
A very heartening experience of absolute realism is created, crystallized in the sincerity of the boys' faces and emotions. There's such an unbroken fresh touch, and such vividity of characters and scenes, that every viewer should be made to esteem the German (and European) origin. This goes all the way. Should the boys speak English instead of German and the film be in color instead of black and white something very fine would be lost.
This makes Private Ryan want to go home to grow up. An enlightenment on the human nature and a shaking envisionment of history is guaranteed. Recommended as an introduction to European cinema.
My #1, too.
//kako
In 105 minutes we are presented the entire war; the birth and self-suffocation of nationalistic fanaticism, the innocent ardour turned into shattered morality.
The plot carries through with a steady pace and the rhythm makes the piece very approachable -- even American. The scenes start from day-to-day lives and we are confronted with real people, with real human conflicts and real human worldviews. By the end, the drama of the plot is made very much second with your emotions towards the people on the screen.
Suddenly the reasons for the war seem clear. Shouldn't you have done that earlier, by now you stop hoping to find someone to blame.
A very heartening experience of absolute realism is created, crystallized in the sincerity of the boys' faces and emotions. There's such an unbroken fresh touch, and such vividity of characters and scenes, that every viewer should be made to esteem the German (and European) origin. This goes all the way. Should the boys speak English instead of German and the film be in color instead of black and white something very fine would be lost.
This makes Private Ryan want to go home to grow up. An enlightenment on the human nature and a shaking envisionment of history is guaranteed. Recommended as an introduction to European cinema.
My #1, too.
//kako