COURAGE UNDER FIRE

US, 1996, 111 minutes, Colour.
Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Moriarty, Matt Damon, Bronson Pinchot, Scott Glenn, Seth Gilliam, Regina Taylor.
Directed by Edward Zwick.

This war movie begins as a very gung-ho actioner set in the Gulf War. By the time it is finished we have watched something of what happened but we have been taken behind the facade of glorious patriotism and made to look at the
realities of war, of heroism and cowardice.

Denzel Washington is an army man through and through who is burdened by deaths in `friendly fire' who has to conduct an enquiry for the awarding of a Medal of Honour to a dead helicopter pilot, Meg Ryan. It becomes his own journey to truth and a plea for integrity. There are intense performances from Lou Diamond Philips and Matt Damon. A thoughtful war movie.

Although director, Edward Zwick, is well-known for his series, thirtysomething, he has shown a special interest in different aspects of war and its meaning (and meaninglessness) with such diverse projects as Glory, Legends of the Fall, The Siege and The Last Samurai.

1. The film issued five years after the end of the Gulf War? American retrospect in the 90s? The war itself, Saddam Hussein and the Iraqis, the oilfields, Kuwait, the action of President Bush? The role of the military, gung-ho attitudes? The issue of friendly fire, the admission of the truth, the media? Cover-ups?

2. The film seen in the retrospect of the 2003 Iraqi war? Repetition of the same action, the conduct of George W. Bush, the Americans and their gung-ho attitude, friendly fire, cover-ups?

3. The title, its reference to the central characters: Nat Serling and his participation in the war, his decisions in the tank, his investigation, admission of the truth? To Karen Walden, as perceived by the other members of her command, as objectively seen? Monfriez and his fears, shooting, cowardice, not admitting the truth? Suicide? Ilario and his fear, the cover-up?

4. The re-creation of the period, the re-creation of war in Iraq, the desert, the tanks, the night lights, daylight, napalm, shootings and explosions? The confusion of battle? The training? The mistakes?

5. The opening episode and the revelation of the character of Nat Serling, his command? The initial prayer, the confidence that God was on their side - and the disasters which followed? The gung-ho attitudes of the men in the tank, wanting to kill the enemy? The gunners, those using the sights? The confusion, the joy when they hit a tank, Serling and his command - and his seeing that the enemy had infiltrated the lines, his shooting at his best friend's tank? His being relieved of his duty, the recording taken by the inquiry and his being exonerated? His being relegated to investigations about medals? The experience of the inquiry, his going to his friend's parents and admitting the truth and asking forgiveness?

6. The story of Karen Walden: Nat's discovery that she was a woman, the first woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor? The nature of the investigation? The PR man and his wanting to promote it? Nat and his reaction to the spiel of the PR man? His relationship with General Hershberg? Being rescued from oblivion, reporting to him, the demands that Hershberg made to get the inquiry finished? Moving Nat away from it? The ultimate revelation of the truth with the help of Tony Gartner? General Hershberg accepting this?

7. The Rashomon-like perspective on what actually happened? The memories of the men? The young men who were rescued, the re-enactment of their attack, injuries? The meeting with Nat, their enthusiasm about the helicopter? Their relief at being rescued? The facts of the helicopter coming, the dropping of the petrol, the crash, the gunfire and the identification of the type of gun, the morning rescue?

8. The personality of Karen, as portrayed by Meg Ryan (unexpectedly)? The officer praising her and his wife complaining how butch she was? Her being in command, flying the helicopter, her decisions? The throwing over of the petrol to destroy the tank? Their being hit, the crash-landing? Her relationship with the men? Her dependence on Ilario for medic official analyses? The encounter with Monfriez? On the ground, Monfriez's version that he was the hero, made all the decisions, that she was a wimp, crying, and wounded and dying? Ilario and his version, similar? Nat going to see Altameyer and his being injured, upping his medication? Nat and his pursued of Ilario? Finding out the truth? Her being a strong leader, her making the decisions, her confronting Monfriez and his cowardice, throwing the book at him, pulling the gun, the attack and Monfriez thinking she was shooting him and his shooting her? Her vigil in the night, wanting to take the rescued man to safety, making sure that he went, sending Ilario away? Her death, the napalm on all the tanks and helicopters? The flashbacks, her role as a mother, divorced, career, her parents? Her training, her graduation, her ability in command?

9. The presentation of the Medal of Honor, the long speech about patriotism and service, courage under fire, the medal presented to her daughter with her parents present?

10. Nat and his own personal problems, his feelings of guilt, drinking, withdrawing? The military handling it? The detail of investigation, his abilities, genial attitude towards the men? The discussions with the wounded man and his wife, building up a picture? Ilario and his downplaying Karen's role, his being three years with her? His work, the pharmacy, his being on the run? Meeting Monfriez, at the gym, tough? His presentation of the truth and glorifying himself? The issue of the type of gun? Nat pursuing him, Monfriez getting him in the car, pulling the gun on him, parking on the railway lines, forcing him out, driving and crashing to his death? Altameyer and his not being able to contribute? Nat finally finding Ilario and Ilario telling him the truth? The portrait of Ilario as a good man, weak under fire? Monfriez and his cowardice, the assertions of the cowardice, menacing towards Nat, his suicide?

11. General Hershberg, the military command, helping their own, making demands on them, the golf course scene, dismissing Nat? His having to listen to Gartner and the truth?

12. Tony Gartner, the Washington Post, the investigations? Meeting Nat in the bar, giving him a drink, Nat's shunning him? Later calling him, wanting to locate people? His willingness to help? The issue of the tape? Nat and Gartner going to the command, playing the tape? His contribution to Nat's vindication?

13. Meredith Serling, the tension with her husband, the children? His being at home, ignoring her, packing and going off? His sitting in the car around the block and her going to him? His return home?

14. A portrait of America in the mid-90s? The traumatic effect of the Gulf War? The challenge to authority, political, military? The importance of honesty and the theme of truth? The finale with Ilario giving the letter from Karen to her parents? Nat going to visit his friend's parents and asking their forgiveness?