Weekly Review -- Past reflections on a dying future

The Trench (1999) -- Films that deal with depictions of wars and other milestones of military history had again become popular in the 1990's, after a bit of a 1980's lull. This is partly due to natural human fascination with history and partly to the state of our world. As I started writing this review, the TV was blaring with a report about yet another explosion in Iraq, which managed to kill more than 70 people; afterwards, the news turned toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is in the context of such bloody daily events that we should see The Trench. The film, set in 1916, tells a story of a group of British soldiers waiting to go into what would become known as the Battle of the Somme, one of the most brutal battles of the 20th century. Among the men are disillusioned Sgt. Winter (Daniel Craig), naive Pte. Macfarlane (Paul Nicholls) and intellectual Pte. Daventry (James D'Arcy). During the proceedings, the group try to make some sense of their situation by exchanging stories about their backgrounds, sharing dreams and generally hoping against hope for the best outcome of the forthcoming battle. There are many touching moments throughout the film, like Winter's conversations with Lt. Harte (Julian Rhind-Tutt) and the soldiers' stories about their lives before the horrors of war. The acting is excellent. Craig is memorable as the group leader, who is aware of the emotional toll of letting down his defenses. Nicholls gives a touching performance as an 18-year old boy whose life is in danger of ending before it has even begun. Film fans will also recognize Cillian Murphy as one of the soldiers. The bleak trench setting creates a claustrophobic, sick feeling and serves its purpose to place the audience in the middle of the characters' anxious waiting game. The film encapsulates a feeling of youthful idealism all but annihilated by hopelessness. It reminds us of despair that only war can bring through destruction of life; through attempts to preserve our past while destroying our future.

8/10