Opening War Sequence Research - Hacksaw Ridge

 War Opening Sequence Research – Hacksaw Ridge  

The Hacksaw Ridge directed by Mel Gibson is a WW2 film set during the battle of Okinawa. The film was released in 2016 and stars Andrew Garfield as the main American solider. 

during the Battle of Okinawa, 

The very shocking and sad opening image followers after the last title, ‘based on a true story'. The image is a bird's eye view shot of a pile of dead bodies, covered in blood and dirt, some still burning with fire. For an opening image this is very powerful. Everything in the shot is very grey and dull, emphasising the lack of life. A dramatic soundtrack is played over the scene with a faint diegetic heartbeat. This accentuates how frighten the men were and that death could happen at any moment. Within the first minute I was hooked and to learn more about the battle and history.  

We know that these men are at war due to their army costumes. They are wearing green clothing, army belts, heavy boots and are holding guns and explosives. We can also tell they are at war as they are mid battle. The soldiers are struggling, a lot of people are dying, but they are trying their best to save each other. You can see the pain and shock in their facial expressions as they watch their friends die.  

Along with the costumes and props the editing techniques and camera also give a sense of war and loss. The POV shots paired with slow-motion editing of the men being carried, looking down at their wounded legs makes the audience feel as though they are part of the battle. The quick editing filled with explosions, shooting, and men becoming extremely injured creates a feeling of urgency and sorrow. Depth of field is another way the director has made the audience feel like they are in the scene, particularly when everything goes blurry, disorientating the audience. Faintly you can hear the diegetic sounds of other soldiers screaming for help. The handheld camera adds to the chaotic atmosphere. The non-diegetic soundtrack swiftly continues through the opening sequence. Then a non-diegetic voice over begins talking about the war and impact it has had. Clearly the genre of this film is war, and the tone is dark, gritty, and realistic.  

The film gives the audience insight into what the real horrors of war actually look like. It makes me emphasise with these poor men who either didn’t know what they were in for or who were drafted.  

The rest of the film could continue to be about the war and particular characters experiences during the war. Maybe, the film is about the man who was being carried out on a stretcher (where we see the POV shot) and his struggles physically and emotionally after the war. It could also be about how his morals or beliefs have changed after the war. 

In my opinion, this opening sequence was engaging but was also hard to watch, which I think was the point. It gave me perspective on what the war was authentically like which in a way left me wanting to watch more.