After 10 years of saturation in his career, speedster filmmaker Mel Gibson returns as a director with the movie Hacksaw Ridge. This is the fifth film he has made. Participating in the 73rd Venice Film Festival in September, the work combining war and religion received many compliments. Unlike other films of the same genre such as Saving Private Ryan (1998), Full Metal Jacket (1987) or Platoon (1986), Hacksaw Ridge does not simply depict the brutality of war but is still a moral struggle.

The plot revolves around real character Desmond Doss – the first person in American history to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II even though he did not fight on the front line. Having witnessed the consequences of violence from his alcoholic father since childhood, Doss had an aversion to force. Putting his faith in religion, he forced himself to obey God’s ten commandments, including the taboo against killing. With the country in danger, Doss said goodbye to his lover to join the infantry training camp.

However, due to religious principles, Doss did not allow himself to hold a gun. Overcoming legal obstacles, he was given special permission to join the 77th Battalion in the battle on Okinawa Island. Here, on the towering mountain Hacksaw Ridge, Doss, unarmed, used his medical skills and strong faith to save his comrades – those willing to sacrifice for the Fatherland.

In that dead space, Desmond Doss is the only person with the ideology “if you’re still breathing, you’re alive”. No matter how seriously injured he is, Doss tries to save his teammates at all costs. Although the army retreated, Doss remained on the battlefield to search for survivors, then let them down the cliff with a rope. The image of him rummaging through a pile of corpses in the dark, calling God and saying “Let me save one more person” is deeply moving. That sentence kept repeating endlessly. In just one short night, his extraordinary efforts saved dozens of lives.

Actor Andrew Garfield portrayed the psychology of character Desmond Doss quite well. From a pious Christian who everyone thought was a coward, he gradually turned his religious principles into practical actions and strived for his self-set mission. The essence of Andrew Garfield’s acting is condensed in the climax of the work. He shows courage, cunning and nobility in the character. Besides the Spider-Man star, Hugo Weaving playing Doss’s father is also a highlight in the cast. His eyes were filled with the pain that war left behind, turning him into an alcoholic and a grumpy person. However, deep inside this character is a burning desire for peace and a strong love for his children.

After its golden age in the 1980s and 1990s, the war movie genre did not have many outstanding works. Although it has not been able to surpass previous “monuments” of war films, Hacksaw Ridge is still considered a highlight in this genre. In particular, the work is a successful revival of director Mel Gibson after a stagnant career in the past 10 years.

Hacksaw Ridge is currently competing for the 89th Academy Awards in the categories “Best Picture”, “Best Actor”, “Best Director”, “Best Editing”, “Best Sound” and “Best Film Editing”. Excellent harmony”. Joe Dziemianowicz of the New York Daily News evaluated the film’s spirit through the main character: “A messenger of peace becomes a true hero in World War II.”