Passchendaele [DVD] [2008]

I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of a happy Hollywood ending in this film. It is refreshing to see a movie that doesn't glorify war and instead highlights the vulnerability of both the body and spirit. While I had some reservations about our hero carrying the body on the cross, it was only a minor issue. What moved me most about this film was its departure from the typical ego-boosting narrative of "we are great for fighting against the enemy." As someone with a grandfather who served in WWI, it served as a reminder of the harsh conditions faced by young soldiers - constant exposure to guns, shells, bullets, rain, and mud. It also humanized the Germans, who were sent into battle without choice by those in power.