Superb film about a young man (Tom Courtenay) on trial for desertion. His defense counsel examines him, to fin a calm man, seemingly unaffected by the proceedings. He is convicted an sentenced to death, despite the apparent injustice, in order to maintain morale.
Losey does not attempt to show the causes of the young man's dilemma -- the horrors of war. And rightfully so. The film is about the effect of war, and no direct presentation would make one believe that anyone could stand it for six years and then suddenly leave. We do believe because of superb dialogue an an excellent use of somber light and cutting and movement between varying distances. Also the continual, often unnoticed but omnipresent, soundtrack of gun firing which help give an ironic psychological justification for the man's [statement] that he just walked away from the guns.n
Comments