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Mel Gibson makes his directorial return with “Hacksaw Ridge”, a film based on the true story of Private Desmond Doss, America’s first conscientious objector awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Andrew Garlfield stars as Doss, who saved 75 men during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II without firing or carrying a gun. As a conscientious objector, Doss believed killing was wrong and refused to carry a weapon. He served as a medic, saving countless lives singlehandedly, and was subsequently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
However “Hacksaw Ridge” first introduces us to Doss as a child, years before WWII, planting the seeds that prompt the decisions Doss will make later in the film. We learn that a religious upbringing, an abusive father and a childhood accident all contribute to Doss’ ultimate decision not to touch a weapon.
As the film goes through the motions that almost every movie about mateship and teamwork does – think training montages and locker room moments in war films and sports movies alike – we meet a colourful cast of supporting characters, most of whom are played by a strong contingent of solid Australian actors (where the film was also shot).
We also meet Doss’ wife-to-be Dorothy, played by Teresa Palmer, who gives the character just enough heart and guts to turn a potentially one-dimensional, seen-it-all-before military wife into a strong and admirable woman in her own right.
Up until this point, the film is fine – it’s well-done enough but we’ve seen it before. Once we get to the battlefield, however, the film becomes a gripping, affecting story of heroism, courage, faith and patriotism. The battle is bloody and brutal, the violence standing in stark contrast to Doss’ unwavering pacifism. There are jump scares that keep the audience on edge and moments of emotion that had the woman next to me tearing up.
At the end of the film Gibson gives an honourable nod to the real Desmond Doss, rolling some footage of the man himself describing the moments we just saw in the film. However the real star of the movie is Garfield, who is brave yet vulnerable, resolute yet respectful, heroic yet relatable.
