The Bridge on the River Kwai (1958) is a MONUMENTAL film. One of those cases where the Academy got it right and awarded Best Picture to a film that deserved it.
I recently saw the Bridge on the River Kwai on 4K. I've got to say, this is one of those movies that lives up to its reputation.The movie presents an incredible twist. Col. Nicholson opposes Saito at the beginning, only to then make friends with him and cooperate. He decides that even though he's an enemy, the British must make a good impression.Toward the end of the film, he sees a dying Shears. He had presumed him to have died. Seeing this prisoner who managed to escape from the camp, Nicholson realizes he's done something abhorrent. He's aided the enemy. "What have I done?". In the previous scene, we see him tell Saito about his life. He wants to leave something of a legacy behind. It's only upon seeing the dying Anerican that he realizes, he has made a mistake. He's betrayed his country.It's a story where there could never have been a good conclusion, if you think of it. The ending words by Clipton, "Madness... Madness!" correctly emphasise that. The movie has been accused of downplaying the severity of Japanese war crimes/prisoner treatment. But the ending scene serves to show how awful war can be. Saito, Nicholson, Shears, and the young Brit, all dead because of some bridge.This is an example of an older film where you can actually go watch it 60 years later and think, "Oh, yeah, this is a good film, this one deserved the praise".Not to mention the incredible performances by Guiness and Hakeyawa. "You speak to me of code? What code! The coward's code! What do you know of the soldier's code, of bushido? Nothing!".Have you seen the film? What did you think of it? via /r/movies https://ift.tt/3HpvubM
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