Be it books, movies, documentaries, or even music. I feel like I have people around me whom wish to fight violence with violence, with mentalities like “we should just counter-invade and show them who’s boss” or “I’m not afraid to fight for what I believe in”, showing a clear intent against an “enemy”.
“The enemy” is such a dehumanizing perspective, and only breeds further animosity. I wish for them to see that we all manage to find justifications for our actions, but that doesn’t make it worthy of just any sacrifice.
I recently saw the Norwegian movie Max Manus, which is about real events during WW2.
Tap for spoiler
He survives, but with almost none of his friends, and after the war he struggles with alcoholism and nightmares for the rest of his life.
It left me with a feeling of despite “victory”, many people paid with more than just their life. And this is the feeling I wish others to feel, just for a bit, and ponder if “doing the right thing” really is the best thing.
No one should want conflict, and I wish to emphasize just how much we really should try and avoid warmongering. I’ve seen uncensored videos from modern wars, been in the military, had a great grandfather who fought in WW2 (who also struggled with nightmares and PTSD until his natural death), and all of it makes me dread the potential of the horrors that happen to everyone involved in an armed conflict, especially the innocents and the kids…
So, any suggestions for media that conveys this in a way that makes one really reflect?
Saving Private Ryan.
If the first 15 minutes don’t turn you into an antiwar activist, I don’t know what will.
That movie is textbook glorifying war 😭 The first 15 minutes especially!! It’s literally called Saving Private Ryan as in here’s a movie about heroic saviors in a situation that is only possible because of war. Majority of the audience doesn’t leave a film like that thinking “war is so awful” but instead thinking “wow the scene where they stormed normandy was awesome it was filmed in such a cool way omg i wish i was also able to be as brave and heroic as those men.”
I think that movie is great, but it is impossible to make any media about war, that directly shows the war, without coming across as pro-war.
If you watch to the end you’ll see a guy who learned to murder a POW in cold blood, though.