War to end all wars?

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2005)

World War I was supposed to be the war that would end all wars. Of course, history has shown otherwise. I read somewhere that Paths of Glory is the greatest anti-war film ever made. Yet, I have also read where some argue against the idea that the intent of the movie is to make an anti-war statement. Whether or not this was Kubrick's intention, the very human story of these French troops puts forth the message that war is not the answer. Vanity and the lust for power and prestige make the goals of even a just war unattainable. WW II shows us that the losers just go and regroup and plot revenge. What may be the most poignant, touching moment in cinema history is the scene at the end where the French soldiers are treated to entertainment by a Bavarian, Fraulein singer in a local tavern. When she comes out on the stage, the soldiers at first begin to jeer and make sexually charged statements that demean the woman and cause her obvious fear. But, when she begins to sing, the whole room suddenly becomes silent. Every soldier suddenly becomes emotionally touched, even overwhelmed, by the haunting beauty of the melody. Though they do not know German, they begin to hum along. In this moment, the soldiers are able to gain a glimpse of humanity in the one who is supposed to be the enemy. This is a powerful human drama that ranks as one of the all time greats.