Farewell To Arms

A Farewell to Arms

Film Review

The title of the film under consideration is A Farewell to Arms. It is a 1957 American drama film directed by Charles Vidor. The screenplay by Ben Hecht, based in part on a 1930 play by Laurence Stallings, was the second feature film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1929 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. The previous one dates back to 1932.  It is distinguished by its hand-picked cast - Rock Hudson as Frederick Henry, Jennifer Jones as Catherine Barkley.

First of all, let me give you the brief reconstruction of the events. Frederick Henry is an American serving as an ambulance driver for the Italian Army during World War I. He fell in love with a nurse - Catherine Barkley. During the retreat of the Italian Army Henry deserted, and he and pregnant Catherine make their way to neutral Switzerland. For some months they live happily, but in the spring Catherine gives a birth to a still-born child, and dies shortly afterward.

The main thing, I‘d like to mention is the play of the actors who managed to feel their characters, their souls, mood and the way of thinking even. I am amazed by the way they took the message of the writer. However, sometimes the development of the love affair did not seem natural, they overacted.

Further, I’d like to concentrate exactly on this overacting. In my opinion, the director shifted the accents a lot. This film lacks that all-important awareness of the inescapable presence and pressure of war. It focuses on the love affair of 2 characters. The essential excitement of a violent love is strangely missing here. Mr. Hudson is most noticeably unbending, as if he was cautious and shy, but Miss Jones plays the famous Catherine Barkley with bewildering nervous moves and grimaces. The show of devotion between two people is intensely acted, not realized, but, as I’ve already mentioned, it was a peculiar feature for me in their acting.

To conclude, the film helped me to imagine the main heroes, the events described in the book. I really enjoyed watching the film because I watch such “old” films rarely but always admire the work and skillfulness of the actors.

In Love And War

 «In Love and War»

Film review

In Love and War (1996) is a romance drama film based on the book of Ernest Hemingway «In Love and War» by Henry Villard and James Nagel, starring Chris O'Donnell, Sandra Bullock. It was directed by Richard Attenborough. This film takes place during World War I, and is based on the famous writer’s real experience in World War I as a young soldier in Italy. He was wounded and sent to military hospital where he was nursed by Agnes von Kurowsky. Hemingway, deeply affected by their passionate but ill-fated affair, later wrote several books about it, including «A Farewell to Arms».

Let me represent the brief reconstruction of the events. Ernest Hemingway is an 18 year old writer who wants to be in the thick of the war in Italy. He goes to Italy and finds himself in the trenches of the war. When he and the men are hit with an explosive he carries one of the Italian soldiers to medical help but gets shot in the leg in the process. When in the hospital he meets Agnes von Kurosky, a Red Cross aide who nurses him back to health. He falls in love with Agnes, but she is concerned about their age difference. They admit their feelings, but Agnes decides to marry an Italian doctor. When she realizes her mistake it's too late. Ernest has already grown into a bitter and cynical man.

Speaking about the problems touched upon in the film, I think it’s important to mention the problem of war and heroism. The problem of heroism is highlighted alongside the war theme. Heroism doesn’t only exist in the front line, but also in hospitals, where the nurses fought for the lives of soldiers throughout day and night. The nightmare of war is shown mainly in hospitals and it produced a great effect of horror on me. The skill of the actors and the director impress and make me remember this film and advise it to the others.

One more point, I’d like to touch upon is a question that arises during the film :“Is it possible to love at war?” What is love at war: flame, passion, lust, devotion, affection, infatuation or something else, something real? This problem is touched upon in the film and revealed through the storyline of Agnes and Ernie. I think that their love was a real one for that place and that time. In fact, at war all the feelings are intensified, that’s why their love was like a passion or a flame, although the affection and devotion are also clear from their relationship. I suppose that Agnes felt affection towards him as to a kid, a young person at war, while Ernie felt passion and lust towards Agnes. This mixture of feelings led to something real which was of vital importance for the main characters at that particular time. The love for the main characters wasn’t possible at peace time and Agnes realized it. So, on the one hand the war prevented the lovers from being together, on the other hand, it couldn’t be born between them without that war.

To tell the truth this film impressed me greatly.  Such things as love and war seem to be incongruous, but this film proves the contrary. The film placed me into the time of war and Ernest Hemingway. It helped me to imagine what kind of a person he was and what influenced his creative talent. I really loved this film, it is worth watching.