It is an American film that, unusually, does not let the US off the hook.
It is a brilliant script.
The performances were superb.
This is a film of its time; all the more remarkable that it was actually made at that time.
Whilst watching it I could not help thinking of Rod Sterling and his ability to use what is an entertainment medium to illustrate deep moral deficiencies in people and, so called, civilised countries. See Twilight Zone episodes "The Shelter", ""The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street", in particular.
This film is about the ability for those in power to turn ordinary people, with all their good and bad points, into "monsters".
Fear is the big weapon.
For instance, fear of the immigrants and the minorities is often used by factions to turn people into unthinking bigots.
I have watched this film many times throughout my lifetime, but what hit me most this time, as a now older person, was the sad realisation that we never learn.
Strangely, throughout the film, as certain arguments were made, especially those about what morally dubious things one would do for one's country, a distortion of patriotism. Feelings of patriotism brought on by a rallying "call to arms", a thin disguise for leaders of that country seeking / keeping power, I, could not help thinking about what my lifetime's worth of conflicts.
Northern Ireland, The Balkans, Iraq, Israel, the Middle East, Ukraine, all the scary regimes, wars, the rise of "populism" in politics and the inevitable dichotomy of, one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.
Our ability not to learn, not to "see" what is happening around us and how we can be manipulated by those in power is saddening.
This is why it is important that films like this one exist.
It is a brilliant script.
The performances were superb.
This is a film of its time; all the more remarkable that it was actually made at that time.
Whilst watching it I could not help thinking of Rod Sterling and his ability to use what is an entertainment medium to illustrate deep moral deficiencies in people and, so called, civilised countries. See Twilight Zone episodes "The Shelter", ""The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street", in particular.
This film is about the ability for those in power to turn ordinary people, with all their good and bad points, into "monsters".
Fear is the big weapon.
For instance, fear of the immigrants and the minorities is often used by factions to turn people into unthinking bigots.
I have watched this film many times throughout my lifetime, but what hit me most this time, as a now older person, was the sad realisation that we never learn.
Strangely, throughout the film, as certain arguments were made, especially those about what morally dubious things one would do for one's country, a distortion of patriotism. Feelings of patriotism brought on by a rallying "call to arms", a thin disguise for leaders of that country seeking / keeping power, I, could not help thinking about what my lifetime's worth of conflicts.
Northern Ireland, The Balkans, Iraq, Israel, the Middle East, Ukraine, all the scary regimes, wars, the rise of "populism" in politics and the inevitable dichotomy of, one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.
Our ability not to learn, not to "see" what is happening around us and how we can be manipulated by those in power is saddening.
This is why it is important that films like this one exist.