Hacksaw Ridge screened yesterday at the Venice Film Festival, and Mel Gibson’s fifth directorial effort was greeted with applause.
The World War 2 picture has garnered strong reviews, and the story – equal parts faith-based heartwarmer and horrors-of-war action drama – follows the true story of Desmond T Doss, a conscientious objector who saved 75 men without even carrying a gun.
The cast includes Andrew Garfield as Doss, as well as Sam Worthington, Vince Vaughn, Luke Bracey, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, and Teresa Palmer.
Gibson explained why he was moved by Doss’ tale. “To have an ordinary man do extraordinary things in incredibly difficult circumstances is the makings of legendary storytelling. His struggle is singular — in the midst of Hell on Earth, he goes in armed with nothing more than faith and conviction. He does something extraordinary and supernatural, really, that inspired me.”
The film was scripted by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight, and the movie has a slightly oldfashioned tone. Schenkkan spent 10 years on the project, and suggests that there are two reasons for this; Doss’ total lack of irony, and completely uncontrived heroism.
The film is in two parts; first, Doss’ childhood with his brother, mother, and abusive WWI veteran father, showing a clear religious conviction, and a commitment to pacifism, then his enlisting in the war, and Basic Training. He refuses to touch a gun, and is bullied by the military, but ultimately is allowed to serve as a medic.
Action shifts to Okinawa, and the threatening sight of the eponymous and terrifying Hacksaw Ridge. Doss’ battalion must scale a 100ft wall, then advance against the Japanese. There are incredibly gory battle scenes, both tense and moving, and Doss moves among the dead and dying to find those still breathing while he attempts himself to avoid enemy fire. He is later the first conscientious objector to receive the Congressional Medal of Honour.
