Director: Peter Weir, Main Cast: Mel Gibson, Mark Lee, Bill Kerr;
A story of friendship and the futility of war. Archy (Mark Lee) and Frank (Mel Gibson), two young Western Australians, are both gifted sprinters who meet at a competition and become friends trying to reach Perth in 1915. Archy is an idealist who wants to fight in the war while Frank is more pragmatic and sees no point in joining the army and going to Europe. However he changes his mind and decides to enlist while helping Archy, who is underage, to lie his way into the light cavalry. Frank doesn’t make the cut and ends up in the infantry. The two friends are separated but meet again in Turkey after Frank leaves the infantry’s “boot camp” in Egypt. They become acquainted with the harsh reality of war while witnessing the senseless massacre of their fellow soldiers. Frank is assigned to be a runner, unbeknown to him after Archy’s recommendation to their CO, in order to keep communicating with the central command once the main attack begins. As in all wars there is sacrifice and loss, well portrayed by this film’s ending. The cinematography is entrancing, the story moves with a nice pace and it is enthralling. The actors are well cast and very convincing, Mark Lee most of all I must say, and you get the best pep talk in movie’s history! Riveting —8/10
Ramblings of a cinephile 