How effective is the film In the Valley of Elah in presenting a viewpoint of war and the military and their impact on contemporary American society?
How effective is the film 'In the Valley of Elah' in presenting a viewpoint of war and the military and their impact on contemporary American society?
It could be said that the motion picture 'In the Valley of Elah' effectively relocates our minds out of the stereotype of soldiers as heroes, to war crime committers causing a huge impact on the contemporary American society, given that it reveals a shameful truth. Within its powerful plot, the character of Hank Deerfield, played by Tommy Lee Jones, Oscar winner for this dramatic and vital role, illustrates a father struggling to accept the death of two sons serving the American Armed Forces. Deerfield's dramatic journey throughout the film drives him to meet Detective Emily Sanders, successfully interpreted by Charlize Theron, an unappreciated yet resolute police officer whose career is being under distress because of irrespective male colleagues. The character of Hank Deerfield alongside of Emily Sanders partake in a discovery uncovering, in which provokes a new disturbing knowledge of unexpected military events.
Whilst these events are revealed, throughout 'In the Valley of Elah' a strong and negative view of war and the military is presented by the director Paul Haggis. In an era such as now, the director showed bravery in producing such an anti-war and anti-military film, which not only presented how war and the army affect the young vulnerable soldiers, but also how it can break apart the American society. Haggis' film is vigorously effective in presenting this lasting anti-war posture through his authentic and truthful portrayal of the impact of the military on those living both within and outside the system. Moreover, the film in its beginning presents a very accurate view of what to expect from the character of Hank Deerfield. It clearly introduces to its viewer Deerfield's patriotism and what he stands for in his country. The film used a variety of devices to demonstrate Deerfield's obsession for his country, such as his connection with the US flag and military photographs. It might be suggested that not only the fact that Deerfield's patriotic manners are due to the impact the military has had on his character, but also that it is representative of the first stage of the director's presentation of how negatively the military affects our lives.
This negative influence is further reflected by the presentation of Hank's relationship with his sons. Hank's attitude towards emotive situations related with his sons' deaths are entirely the opposite of what it might be expected from an ordinary person. Throughout the film, it is also possible to see the pressure that Hank had on his son's choice to serve in the armed forces. It might be said that it collides with the director's point of view that the military can remove poignant links within families. Furthermore, the military influence on Hank's character is also produced on his relationship with his wife. The director's point of view is deliberately displayed as Hank is always unemotive and distant, in such situations as in their son's death where Hank would, by instinct, not cooperate with Joan's misery; contributing to her growth downtrodden and unappreciated role in his life. Hank's character shows himself as very obsessive and in need of keeping absolute control around him, which is associated to his patriotism. That in the film, was remarkably symbolized in a scene where Hank interrupted his journey as he noticed a US flag being dragged on the floor by a Hispanic man and he would spare a minute to correct it. In contrast with his deeds related with his family, the manner he teaches the man how important it is to respect the flag shows in viewer's eyes that his love for the country is more consistent than for his family. This effectively contributes to the audience's low level of sympathy for the character of Hank, since at this point he could roughly be described as an anti-hero. The impact of Hank's character as unemotive does not just fall in the audience's eyes, but also in the eyes of the character of Emily Sanders, a woman who until this point has been presented sympathetically to the audience, mainly due to the mode she is unfairly approached by her male colleagues at work. They ignore her competence since she is a woman, and also tend to believe that the reason she was placed in her position was due to sexual nepotism. To complement her liability, she is a single mother, who through affectionate scenes on the film displayed her love and devotion for her son David. At some point at the work day, where she was always referred absurd and unimportant occurrences, she was found with Hank's missing son's case. Exactly at this moment, the character of Emily is viewed at a different perspective from the audience since she refused to help the afflicted man. It is noticeable the change over the feelings for both characters of Hank and Emily, where the impassive became the vulnerable, and vice versa.
It could be said that the motion picture 'In the Valley of Elah' effectively relocates our minds out of the stereotype of soldiers as heroes, to war crime committers causing a huge impact on the contemporary American society, given that it reveals a shameful truth. Within its powerful plot, the character of Hank Deerfield, played by Tommy Lee Jones, Oscar winner for this dramatic and vital role, illustrates a father struggling to accept the death of two sons serving the American Armed Forces. Deerfield's dramatic journey throughout the film drives him to meet Detective Emily Sanders, successfully interpreted by Charlize Theron, an unappreciated yet resolute police officer whose career is being under distress because of irrespective male colleagues. The character of Hank Deerfield alongside of Emily Sanders partake in a discovery uncovering, in which provokes a new disturbing knowledge of unexpected military events.
Whilst these events are revealed, throughout 'In the Valley of Elah' a strong and negative view of war and the military is presented by the director Paul Haggis. In an era such as now, the director showed bravery in producing such an anti-war and anti-military film, which not only presented how war and the army affect the young vulnerable soldiers, but also how it can break apart the American society. Haggis' film is vigorously effective in presenting this lasting anti-war posture through his authentic and truthful portrayal of the impact of the military on those living both within and outside the system. Moreover, the film in its beginning presents a very accurate view of what to expect from the character of Hank Deerfield. It clearly introduces to its viewer Deerfield's patriotism and what he stands for in his country. The film used a variety of devices to demonstrate Deerfield's obsession for his country, such as his connection with the US flag and military photographs. It might be suggested that not only the fact that Deerfield's patriotic manners are due to the impact the military has had on his character, but also that it is representative of the first stage of the director's presentation of how negatively the military affects our lives.
This negative influence is further reflected by the presentation of Hank's relationship with his sons. Hank's attitude towards emotive situations related with his sons' deaths are entirely the opposite of what it might be expected from an ordinary person. Throughout the film, it is also possible to see the pressure that Hank had on his son's choice to serve in the armed forces. It might be said that it collides with the director's point of view that the military can remove poignant links within families. Furthermore, the military influence on Hank's character is also produced on his relationship with his wife. The director's point of view is deliberately displayed as Hank is always unemotive and distant, in such situations as in their son's death where Hank would, by instinct, not cooperate with Joan's misery; contributing to her growth downtrodden and unappreciated role in his life. Hank's character shows himself as very obsessive and in need of keeping absolute control around him, which is associated to his patriotism. That in the film, was remarkably symbolized in a scene where Hank interrupted his journey as he noticed a US flag being dragged on the floor by a Hispanic man and he would spare a minute to correct it. In contrast with his deeds related with his family, the manner he teaches the man how important it is to respect the flag shows in viewer's eyes that his love for the country is more consistent than for his family. This effectively contributes to the audience's low level of sympathy for the character of Hank, since at this point he could roughly be described as an anti-hero. The impact of Hank's character as unemotive does not just fall in the audience's eyes, but also in the eyes of the character of Emily Sanders, a woman who until this point has been presented sympathetically to the audience, mainly due to the mode she is unfairly approached by her male colleagues at work. They ignore her competence since she is a woman, and also tend to believe that the reason she was placed in her position was due to sexual nepotism. To complement her liability, she is a single mother, who through affectionate scenes on the film displayed her love and devotion for her son David. At some point at the work day, where she was always referred absurd and unimportant occurrences, she was found with Hank's missing son's case. Exactly at this moment, the character of Emily is viewed at a different perspective from the audience since she refused to help the afflicted man. It is noticeable the change over the feelings for both characters of Hank and Emily, where the impassive became the vulnerable, and vice versa.
