"Flags of our fathers"

We saw Flags of our Fathers the other day at a small theater on Avenue des Gobelins. What a powerful and moving film. Of course we’re a bit taken with the period of the Second World War sincemoving to France, having just been to Normandy, viewed Band of Brothers again and I finally got around to reading the book. So we were already headed in the right direction I suppose to appreciate the depths explored by Eastwood in his latest film. In some obvious ways this is quite a change from Kelly’s Heroes, but still carrying some of the same anti-establishment attitude.

The story is wonderfully told and while there will be attempts to draw some sort of parallel with Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan – Spielberg actually co-produced Flags with Eastwood – that would be a mistake. This is first of all about the Marines – a key difference for some of us – and second it takes place on the tiny island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theater near the end of the war. But the most important distinction is that it uses one very specific incident as the vehicle to explain how a society visualizes and then idealizes heroism. It then explores how that “idealization” is often at odds with what the “heroes” have themselves experienced. The story in fact focuses on the son of one of the flag raisers, Navy corpsman James Bradley, and his efforts to find out exactly what his father did during the war.

We urge everyone to go and see this movie: it will not be easy for some but will be well worth your time. And if you haven’t seen it by all means stay until the very last credit finishes rolling on the screen! Trust us on this. Please stay seated until the plane has come to a complete stop.

Given the overwhelming emotions we felt as we walked out of the theater and as we talked about the movie afterwards, we were therefore quite surprised to find a curious piece in the online edition of the New York Times just the other day. Titled “Burying Private Ryan” it asks the uncomfortable question: do Americans really care about the “greatest” generation and their sacrifices of so many years ago? It is a disturbing bit of news to say the least – and the answer is not all that surprising. For example in June of 1927, just weeks after Lindbergh landed in Paris (thank you very much), the six surviving veterans of the Third Michigan Infantry, a civil war regiment, held their final reunion in a small side room of the Pantlind Hotel in Grand Rapids; not one newspaper reported that event. Neglect of veterans and their sacrifices are unfortunately a part of the American unwillingness to spend much if any time exploring their past. Perhaps all that perspective makes too many people feel uncomfortable.

Anyway I have taken the liberty of attaching a copy to the update email. You can also access it online by clicking here. I'd be curious to know what you think.

Wish you were here,

Steve