Saints and Soldiers

I’ll admit that I am a nut when it comes to history films. I love when certain platoons are focused upon, or specific acts are examined. Perhaps that’s why I choose to fall asleep to the History channel. Though it seems that some films have been profiting on the “Big Picture” moments, like Michael Bay’s blunder “Pearl Harbor” or the hit Tom Hanks film “Saving Private Ryan,” I find that smaller productions tend to be the more powerful, more intimate stories I like to see. Perhaps that’s why “Band of Brothers is by far my favorite war film series ever produced. But today, I talk about a small film that has won several awards across the globe: Saints and Soldiers.

Saints and Soldiers is a story about 5 men trapped behind enemy lines. Sounds familiar, right? This film begins with a graphic introduction to the Malmedy Massacre, an instance where 80 U.S. soldiers were killed without provocation. Escaping the massacre, 5 men must survive behind the lines of the Germans. But it’s not just a story of men trapped; the story focuses around the events of the men leading up to the massacre, and the emotional stresses, and mental breakdowns that they incur. It’s a story of survival, yes, but it’s also a story of brotherhood, and trusting men with your life.

Again, this may sound like any typical film produced to demonstrate the war effort, but believe me when I say that there are many different levels this film touches on that most big-picture films don’t. One of these things is cinematography. This entire film was shot on a hand held unit, giving the film a gritty, follow-along feel. Unlike other war films that switch to the handy cam when bombs start dropping, this film makes the effort to stay in character the entire time. It makes the viewers feel as if they really are sitting in a cold field, or a trench, or an abandoned shack. We feel the same tension that the characters do simply because we are visually pulled into the film the same way we would be if we were to experience it in real life. Big picture films do this, but do it during the action sequences only, and in my own opinion, this takes away from the overall feel of the film.

Coupled with a strong visual picture, we are given characters that aren’t just names and locations. So often in war films, we are given a name: Butch from Vermont, Simon from Texas, Ray from California. This film takes the time to get to know the characters. We learn facts about a somewhat unstable character, pit against a terrible mistake made only days before this story takes place. Coupled with the stress of survival, the audience also suffers through the mental breakdown that these men must face head on.

It’s an overall good story, and a good war film. I can honestly say that I didn’t know much about the Malmedy Massacre before this film, and I certainly hadn’t heard of this film until I caught it on the History Channel. It’s a good production, with powerful moments. It demonstrates what men must feel like when they have no one else to turn to. It pulls the audience along for a trip through the harsh climate, and devastating mental guilt that plagues this group. Check it out if you get the chance. Not sure if it’d be available for rent, but the History Channel is just a few clicks away. 7.25 of 10.