The film 'Gallipoli' is a film based on the battle at Gallipoli, which took place during the First World War, 1914-1918. It all began on 25th April 1915 when the Allied forces (Britain, France and Russia) assaulted the Gallipoli peninsula, near Turkey. On the 25th April alone, 2000 Australians were killed and wounded. The two main characters, Archy and Frank, are both young men from Western Australia, but they had different attitudes towards the war. Archy is very determined about going to war but Frank is unsure about it, and both of them are in involved in one the most hopeless battle of the First World War.
Importantly the opening and closing scenes provide a big contrast to make the film more interesting, and to have a powerful impact on the audience, ensuring the message of the film is communicated. I think this film is not just a war film, and it's a film about friendship, because it is about how Archy and Frank join together as runners and as fighters at war. Although their attitude to war are different, but at the end of the film I can see that how Frank's disappointment indicate how important Archy is as a friend. The contrast of the beginning and the end of the film is straightly different, but they are doing similar things.At the beginning, Archy's uncle is training Archy to run, Archy to be running as fast as a leopard, it is a mirror image at the end, reflecting what happened at the beginning. At the beginning it is the whistle blown from his uncle and at the end the whistle and gun indicates that Archy is going to die.
The way Archy runs is also the same, sprinting as fast as he can; he finishes at the beginning victoriously with his arms spread, that is the shot at the end when Archy got shot and dead. The contrasts between them are different. At the start Archy is staying at his secure home, with family, everything is fine.At the end, he is about thousand miles away from home and dies alone.
Elements like music used also helps the director Peter Weir communicate this point, which is mysterious and sad music is used. Archy's attitude to the war is serious, we can see that when he is taking off shoes to have a race with Les, and making friends with the black boy, indicates that he is serious about everything he is doing, and he had made his mind of going to war whatever happens. He also plays an important role in the family; he is the oldest child in the family, with many younger brothers and sisters.His uncle is a boxer before, he knew what's so dangerous about the war, so he's trying to persuade him not to, but Archy is serious about it, so his uncle knew he was going to die at that stage and so does Archy when he goes to war.
As he knew he is an important part to his family, the letter he wrote back is just to make them happy. The letter used I think is part of a prop to indicate the message to the audience, saying about what Archy actually was thinking about the war and how he feel about it, it's also highlighting that many soldiers probably didn't write the truth in their letters, as they didn't want their family know the truth.From the projected image of life as a soldier, the reality of it shows how bad it is when people are going to war, especially when it's a hopeless war and they are not dying for their own country. But Archy still acted happily and no worries.
When they arrived Gallipoli, we can see differently how it changes as he saw two lots of soldiers dying when they are going over the top. Props used in the scenes helps giving out the reality of the soldier, they are all dressed in quite an old fashion clothes, so that we can understand that was during war time, all the things like table used are all quite old and dull, old fashioned.This symbolises that what Archy and Frank were fighting for was a hopeless war, as they dressed in old and dirty clothes, the director also used this element to pass the message to the audience about the fact that Archy will not give up although it was a hopeless war. When they are showing the credits at the beginning of the film, the music used is mysterious and quite sad, so that we can know it is a war film, the fonts used are in red, and it reflects there will be blood and people dying when the film goes on.Close up shots are used when Archy is running.
It gives contrast when Archy is running against Les, as long shots are used to show how fast he can run. The props used always symobolises things, like when they are reading the 'Jungle Book', Mowlgi leave the jungle was like Archy is leaving home to go to war. The newspaper title, 'Magnificent achievement', Splended Gallantry', Glowing Tribattle', and 'Baptism of fire', they are all encouraging Archy to go to war, because they are all positive way of Australians in war, that's way Archy wants to go.He was also looking at the map, because he was trying to find out where the place of war is, these are clever things to symbolise Archy wants to go. He is also confident in everything.
'I will still win', although his leg are full of wounds and blood, but he still thinks he is going to win the big race, this shows how confident he is, and it also symbolise what people said will not affect his attitude to war. These few things symbolise things to encourage Archy to go to war, and also giving confidence to him, giving out the reality of a soldier's life.As we are heading towards the end of the film, Archy's effort to war were still very strong and determined, as if he was very determined, Frank changed his job to be a messenger, from his point view, we can see how many men are involved and how hopeless the situation is. Archy and Frank looked at each other when men are going over the top, the important thing about that was Archy knew he would die, the two lots of soldiers before dying over symbolises that, camera angles used helps building tension over.Frank was doing the best to help him, telling the officer to stop. The director creates tension here by using different sorts of music, love music and some sort of exciting music are used, they symbolises danger.
All sorts of things done before men go over the top like saying prayers, taking off wedding ring, hanging up medals, which let people afterwards knew they were there, the message given out is that they knew it was hopeless, as they are doing things like that, they knew they will die.The most exciting bit of the film is when shots changing rapidly between Frank and Archy when they are running and preparing, it all creates tension and helps emphasises the message of the film. Camera angles are narrow and close; it helps passing the message to the audience. The change of scene between Frank running was exciting, the director uses fast music, it maintains momentum and slower music as men prepare. It focuses on two men which effects audiences, makes the whole thing more personal.
When men are preparing to go over the top, the camera focuses on hands and body of the soldiers, but not their faces, it is a metaphor for thousands of men going and died. As soon as the whistle has blown, Archy was going over the top. Frank's helpless situation and disappointment shows how bad he feels losing a good friend, he was desperate. When he heard the whistle blown and he realized Archy has gone over the top.
On the other side, Archy's preparation and physical movement is almost a mirror image of the beginning of the film, he performs his mantra and get on with war with confidence.Archy was saying the mantra about running as fast as a leopard again, when he says the word, the audience will anticipate, shots used are focused on his face and mouth , it emphasizes the power of the words, as well as the loss of his life and his loss of talent. Tension was created when they are working at their best to try and stay alive, although it was hopeless, but the director uses music, and especially camera angles, to state out how bad it is. Close up shots are used, with some sort of slow action to build tension up, but it drops immediately when Archy was dead.The director used all sorts of things to help conveying the message to audience, using things like credits, music, special effects; it also makes it more interesting and looking forward to watch. The message passing through is that about how confident Archy is to the war and he is not scared of anything, no matter death.
Generally, Peter Weir uses props and lighting to create tension to the audience, close up shots and wide camera angles are also used, it helps gives the message of how bad and hopeless it is when they are at war, mysterious and sad music are also used.
