small-scale war movie is a true gem

Rating: 10/10 (4 January 2009)

"Saints and Soldiers" presents an intimate, detailed look at one particular incident during the Battle of the Bulge, and its effects on a handful of allied soldiers. The story follows four Americans who escape their German captors and hide out in the woods, where they come upon a Brit pilot with key intelligence information. To help him get this information to their commanders, they embark on a harrowing cross-country journey across German-held territory to reach their own lines.
While there are several battle scenes, and plenty of men dying, this ends up being less an action film and much more a thought-provoking idea film. Of the main characters, one is a devout Christian, one a confirmed atheist, and it is the interplay between these two world views that makes the plot gripping and fascinating. Both are trying to make sense of the horrors they are going through, and while they start out somewhat at odds, they grow closer as the movie goes on.
It's hard not to compare this to "Saving Private Ryan," another story of a small band of GI's going cross-country and battling Germans, trying to reach someone and accomplish something. Yet where "Ryan" left me totally depressed and emotionally empty, "Saints and Soldiers" rewards the viewer with an uplifting, encouraging message. Both deal with the consequences of pity/mercy on the part of the GI's towards a German prisoner, but with vastly different outcomes.
Every aspect of this movie was remarkably well done. There is visual beauty in the winter landscape, a sparse but nonetheless effective soundtrack (one main theme that is really haunting), great camera and audio work in the action scenes, and genuinely powerful performances by all the key actors. To realize this was all done on a minuscule budget only adds to my admiration.
This movie will leave you thinking about its characters, images, and ideas long after it's faded away. A well-deserved 10/10.