Scene Analysis of Saving Private Ryan

-(Scene is from 3:50 to 5:53)

Soldiers who have fought in wars past have been made out to be cold-hearted killers by some historians, callous to the death and destruction which surrounds them in combat. Many movies also portray this idea; however, this is not how it is. The movie “Saving Private Ryan”, directed by Steven Spielberg, has a different idea of how soldiers carry themselves out in duty. In reality, soldiers are not cold-hearted killers who only follow orders, but rather feel sorry for what they have to do. Spielberg attempts to show that human life is always important, even in war. He shows this by creating a somber and bitter tone and by using different angles and shots seen in this scene.

Through the use of setting, lighting and close-ups, Spielberg is able to create a somber tone. The scene is set in time as the Invasion of Normandy has begun, with bloodied bodies strewn everywhere. In the final moments of the scene, the camera captures this feeling of emptiness and sadness when it pans across the beach to reveal the hundreds of bodies sprawled out while the waves keep coming, red with blood. The lighting of the scene also build up to this feeling of sadness, as the background always seems to be filled with clouds, smoke and fire, blocking out the sun and the warmth which comes with it. The lighting used in the scene also seems to symbolize a soldier’s thinking, as during times of war one has conflicting emotions. On one hand, they need to follow out the orders of their superior offices, but on the other, they value the lives of others, even though they are the enemy. This is seen in close-ups as well. In shots 1 and 14, they show Cpt. Miller’s face as he looks into the distance. His eyes portray a feeling of sadness as he looks at the death and destruction which lay in front of him, while clouds in the background block out any available light, showing his conflicting thoughts and judgment.

During the scene, a bitter tone is also established through the use of camera angles, reaction shots, and dialogue. In shot 11, a soldier is depicted after having just picked up some dirt and placing it in a cup labeled “France”. The director then creates a low-angle shot to show the man’s face as he looks out into the distance. This camera angle shows how the soldier is looked up to, as he begins to show emotion for what he has just done. He has realized that those lying dead are a result of him and others shooting them down, and begins to feel regret for his actions, showing that many soldiers believe that the taking human life is wrong, even in times of war. Along with the camera angles used, Spielberg has various reaction shots that build up to the bitterness felt during the scene. At one time during the scene, a soldier named Fish is portrayed breaking down to the thought of taking a knife from a German that has just been killed. In shot 7, there is a reaction shot showing the soldier who has handed Fish the knife deep in thought. He himself is bitter to the situation that has just unfolded, seemingly in pain as he looks down to avoid looking at his friend sobbing uncontrollably. During the scene, there are other reaction shots all showing basically the same emotion – sadness and regret. These tones are also portrayed through the limited dialogue used during the scene. At one point during the scene, Cpt. Miller is drinking from his canteen and looks down upon the beach he has just come from. The man next to him says, “That’s quite a view”, with Miller’s response simply being, “Yes it is. Quite a view.” Cpt. Miller begins to take in what has just happened and a feeling of bitterness envelops him as he realizes all the dead soldiers strewn on the beaches of Normandy. It is also apparent in the pitch of his voice that he is deeply saddened by the events which have unfolded around him.

Throughout the scene, Steven Spielberg employs various techniques to create a variety of tones. These tones build up to the idea that not all soldiers are killing machines, but rather feel the need to shield human life from destruction caused by war. Even though orders are placed to eliminate the enemy, people cannot get rid of this feeling of regret which comes with the task set before them.

Scene Proposal

Movie: Saving Private Ryan

Scene: 25:25 - 27:22, Depicts Cpt. Miller as the leader of the 2nd Ranger Battalion. They have just finished storming the beaches of Normandy.
(Part 3, 3:50 to 5:53 on youtube.com)

Description: The scene starts off with Cpt. Miller looking on in the distance as the fighting continues around him. He watches as a bunker explodes and his men begin to steal supplies from fallen German soldiers. The scene takes place near the beach, but not directly on it and the skies are full of clouds with smoke and some explosions in the background. People everywhere are also running and there is chaos all around him. Gun shots continue as one of Miller's men finds a knife off of a German soldier who has been killed in a trench and exclaims to one of his friends, "Hey Fish, look at this, a Hitler Youth knife." As he gives it to "Fish", he turns around and cracks a joke. Suddenly, however, he begins to cry uncontrollably. We see the camera zoom in on his face as we see his pain envellop him. The camera then captures the faces of those around him, and sorrow is present in their faces as well. Gunfire keeps exploding in the background. One guy then bends down and puts some dirt in a cup and seals it, with the word "France" labeling it and puts it in a bag with other cups labeled "Italy" and "Africa". This man's face is completely covered in soot and dirt as he looks on in the distance. The camera then switches views to a man who's hands are shaking while trying to open a waterbottle. We can't yet see his face, however after a few seconds of trying to open the canteen, we are able to see this is Cpt. Miller who has his back to some barbed-wire and smoke coming from a recent shell-strike. Another man says "It's quite a view", with Miller's response being a simple, "Yes it is...quite a view". The camera then zooms again closer to his face, and we see he is sweaty and has an expression of sadness in his eyes. He is looking out upon the beaches and the blood and bodies which cover it. The bodies are rolling in the sea with each incoming wave, which is also red from the blood.

(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 5

Theme I - Gender Roles
So far, the authors of the plays we have read have oftentimes used gender roles to portray how women should have acted during the times the plays were written. Like in Oedipus the King, Jocasta is portrayed as being someone who thoughtfully looks at the situation at hand and is calm even through times of hardship (although there still is a breaking point for women). Also, in Medea, the main woman of the play is also portrayed differently than men. Medea is often rash and acts out of jealousy. She ends up killing her two sons and is a role model of what women should not behave like. In both versions of Antigone, Antigone is shown as a woman who stands up for her rights and is assertive, committed to what she truly believes in.

Theme II - Corruption
In every play we have read, corruption plays a great part in the plot. Like Oedipus, Creon and, to an extent, Jason, power has brought upon the lust for more power and complete control along with the knowledge of always being right. This does not end well in all cases, for it causes grief for those indirectly affected by this corruption. This abuse of power often leads to negative consequences, often being death.

(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 4

Happiness is a word which Anouilh often repeats during Creon and Antigone's argument. One time, Antigone says,"Happiness..." with Creon replying, "Not much of a word is it?" (Pg 41). This shows how Creon and Antigone differ greatly in their thinking. Although Creon and Antigone believe that happiness is the essence of life and the reason people go on living, they have a different view of what this happiness is. Antigone believes happiness is gained by the right to have a choice in your life. Creon, on the other hand, believed that happiness was gained through submission and obediance. He wants Antigone to be happy through obeying him and marrying Haemon.
Anouilh also uses ambiguous terms throughout the book to let us interpret the characters and their motivations. He makes these terms, such as happiness, seem rather unclear to show how the character of Creon makes broad statements in order to try and make other characters, such as Antigone, obey his orders. Creon wishes only for Antigone to be quiet and stay alive and "be happy". Antigone responds to this unfavorably, believing that dying for her cause is better than obeying Creon and not burying her brother.

(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 3

The scene which my group will be acting out is the one when Medea kills her two sons and then flies away in her chariot. I will be acting out the lines of the chorus and the boys. The chorus talk of how they believe that Medea was wrong to have murdered her own children. They are motivated to talk out by her actions, leading them to condemn what she has just done. The chorus says, "Woman of stone, heart of iron [...] ready to kill the seed of your hands with the hand that tilled." (pg. 72 line 1279). They show how they believe Medea has become coldhearted and almost not-human because of her actions and they disagree with the approach she is taking in getting back at Jason for what he has done to her.

(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 2

Foil
-"I always think things over, and you don't. You are Impulsive...whereas I think things out." (Anouilh 11)
-Anouilh creates a foil between Ismene and Antigone to highlight how rash and impulsive Antigone's actions are throughout the play. It also shows how different the two sisters are and may build up to something bigger later in the play.

Repetition
-"Stronger than all fever, stronger than any nightmare, strongher than the shadow of the cuboard that used to snarl at me and turn into a dragon on the bedroom wall." (Anouilh 14)
-Anouilh repeats the word "stronger" to emphasize how Antigone wishes for the Nurse to become stronger emotionally and help Antigone out in achieving her goal of burying her brother against the law.

Simile
-"I'm sallow, and I'm scrawny. Ismene is pink and golden. She's like a fruit." (Anouilh 17)
-This simile is used to again compare and contrast the personalities of Ismene and Antigone. They are almost complete opposites and this difference may again lead up to something bigger in the end.

Metaphor
-"The machine is in perfect order; it has been oiled ever since time began, and it runs without friction." (Anouilh 23)
-Anouilh compares tragedy to a machine to show how perfect tragedy is. It runs "without friction", which shows how it is always happening in everyday life and has been doing so since time began.

(Anouilh) Antigone Journal 1

During the 1940's, WWII was in full gear. France, where Jean Anouilh was living, was already occupied by Germany and the Nazis were beginning to take all of Europe. There was an increase in the number of dictators such as Stalin, Hitler and Musolini around the world controlling everyone's lives. These events probably greatly influenced Anouilh's version of Antigone. He will most likely emphasize the role of Creon as being a terrible ruler who rules Thebes with an iron fist - much like Hitler or Musolini did. Also, he will probably leave out certain aspects of tragedy and more likely focus on death and destruction rather than emotional suffering.