“To end all wars” - Movie Review

Today, I would like to talk about a really good movie called: “To end all wars”. The movie presents a strong and deep meaning concerning Christian ethics. I believe the director tries to present as best as he can the tough reality of a war labor camp and how difficult can be to show kindness and love to different cultures with distinct views portraying respect, forgiveness, maturity, etc.

In the story we see many characters demonstrating different attitudes toward their neighbor. Loving our enemy is not an easy task as the story shows. However, the movie shows that if we seek for God’s guidance and grace, He will help us to develop a love for our enemies. It is interesting to notice that the Prisoners of War started to understand this issue of how they should relate to their neighbors, when they begin to read the Scriptures and develop accountability among themselves. It is fundamental for one to build a good relationship with God and the neighbor to first grow in ways that will shape their lives from the inside out. This process requires a deep need and passion for the Word of God, which can be reinforced by the fellowship of the believers.

As the prisoners learn more about God and each other, they start to understand that only with respect they would be able to earn something back from the Japanese. Therefore, they begin to relate better with the Japanese, by not seeking revenge, but by forgiving and showing love through their actions. At first the Japanese captors do not comprehended why the prisoners are acting differently, but as the time goes by they start to realize how significant are their attitude toward the people in the camp, that continues to be shaped with the episodes that happen during the story.

It is interesting to see how each character in the story build their ethic ideals and how some of them approximate their lives to a Christian perspective regarding love, forgiveness and respect. The first example, which happens in the beginning of the camp, is the major Campbell. He does not accept the fact that the Japanese were requiring a great amount of work and offering precarious conditions regarding food, rest, fellowship, etc.  He stands against their position and he died because of his firm mindset, which did not allow him to see the situation with the eyes of one changed by the Kingdom message found in the Sermon of the Mount.

In the other hand, we have examples such as Ernest Gordon, Jim Reardon and Dusty Miller that present morals of one that are still suffering because of the tough situation, but that understand that love should be their first reaction, when it comes the time of relating and serving their enemy. At first it was hard for them to accept the situation, especially because the Japanese were enduring such a harsh treatment on them. However, they keep growing as they start to encourage each other, practice forgiveness and love toward the Japanese’s commanders. Their approach to violence changes the scenario of the camp. At first, the Japanese do not understand such a distinct behavior from the prisoners, but as the time goes, there are compelled by the power of love, forgiveness, respect.

Loving our neighbor and showing forgiveness is a difficult task. Jesus explores this concept in his Sermon, which fulfilled the earlier Jewish law regarding the horizontal relationship with our neighbor. Practicing those actions such as praying for our enemies and seeking for help from people that experienced this same kind of relationship (accountability) are the keys that Jesus tried to reinforce in his message. By watching the movie, we can see that violence only brings more violence. For instance, when Major Campbell showed rebellious against the Japanese by trying to escape the camp, this only brought more suffering to both sides in the story. Therefore, we need to ask God to help us and shape us through prayer. But we also ought to practice forgiveness in the same way God showed to us. Only by accepting his will we will be able to relate in love to one another.