Today’s quick review: The Bridge on the River Kwai. In 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) and his men are taken to a Japanese POW camp ruled by the draconian Colonel Saito (Sessue Hayakawa). There they are forced to labor under inhumane conditions building a railroad bridge over the River Kwai. While Nicholson fights for the rights of his men, Lieutenant Commander Shears (William Holden), a cynical American, plans his escape.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a classic war drama about a battalion of British soldiers taken prisoner in Asia during World War II. The movie serves as both a historical account of the conditions faced by Allied POWs in the Pacific and a complex moral tale that illuminates the paradoxes of war. The Bridge on the River Kwai features a nuanced story, multifaceted characters, and powerful themes, all of which help the movie earn its place as a classic.
The heart of The Bridge on the River Kwai is the moral battle between Nicholson and Saito. The two men represent opposite perspectives on war and the duties of soldiers. Saito operates within Japan’s rigid code of honor, while Nicholson adheres to the more humanitarian rules of the British military. Their conflict plays out through exchanged volleys of punishment and defiance, and much of the film’s appeal comes from seeing the men vie for control.
But what sets the film apart is where it goes with this premise. Nicholson sticks dutifully to his principles but loses sight of the big picture. His rules give him the strength to endure, but they also blind him to the possibility of escape. This is where Shears enters the picture: a pragmatist less concerned with honor than with survival. The clash of principles betweeen Nicholson, Saito, and Shears results in a rich and compelling plot.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is a great pick for anyone accustomed to the slower pacing and thoughtful writing of the classics. The movie takes its time setting up the characters and conflicts it needs, but the payoff is a thorough treatment of compelling moral questions. Anyone interested in the nature of honor or duty would do well to give it a shot. Skip it if you are looking for action or an easier, more superficial plot.
For another war drama about a POW camp during World War II, try The Great Escape. For a violent and emotionally powerful war drama with a strong moral element, try Saving Private Ryan. For a classic drama that explores the effects of stress on an otherwise good man, try The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a multifaceted moral conflict.