Last night I got to see “War Horse.” Wow. This movie had me from the opening scenes, and I was enthralled the entire time. I left the theater with a greater appreciation for those who serve in our country’s wars and those who are affected by the horrible circumstances war-torn countries find themselves in.
The movie is moving, heart wrenching, sad and yet, still so hopeful. The story about a boy and his horse illustrates how war doesn’t just affect those fighting it, or those who lose loved ones, but everyone.
“War Horse” illustrates how human kindness can reach beyond political, country and even war lines.
The movie is written as a series of vignettes that show the impact World War I had on people in England and Germany. While the countries were at odds, and political views differed, there were still many common threads that held people together. Kindness, love, bravery and family are all values that are emphasized as Joey, a war horse, inspires hope for many people in both England and Germany.
“I thought perhaps you might need these.”
One of my favorite scenes of the movie is when after fleeing a particularly vicious battle, Joey becomes entangled in barbed wire, scrap metal and fence posts. The horse can no longer run, and is forced to lie down and give up in what is known as “no man’s land,” or the unoccupied, battle space between two enemy camps. When the horse fails to respond to calls from English soldiers, one soldier decides to venture out of the bunker to help Joey.
Waving a white flag, the solder carefully makes his way to the horse, but realizes he doesn’t have what he needs to free Joey. That’s when a German soldier suddenly appears, holding a pair of wire cutters above his head. “I thought perhaps you might need these,” he says. The two set aside their political differences, and the war, and work together to free the horse.
Their conversation is forced at first, but as they work together they open up, and begin talking about the bunker conditions and their countries. Without stating it outright, the two have found a common ground.
For a few brief moments, humanity and civility are victorious in the midst of the hellish war.
Maybe there are times when we can all be grateful for the wonderful opportunities our lives afford us, set aside our differences, and even offer our “enemies” a pair of wire cutters.
Have you seen “War Horse?” What did you think? How did it stack up against other war movies?