In Perspective, Fun: The Bridge Over the River Kwai

[Chris Calohan II]

The movie, "The Bridge Over the River Kwai," while exceptionally good is only a part of my attraction to the Death March at Bataan, a march one of my dad's best friends made and unfortunately did not survive. It took my father years to overcome his hatred of the Japanese and only then to the level of civil tolerance.

I was out and about the other night when I saw our local old, though renovated movie theater was showing the film and after shooting its locale, went down to our local gateway and shot a companion image. It's certainly not the same kind of bridge but it is a nice bridge nonetheless.

Movie Night at the Martin: Chris Calohan

The not, "The Bridge:" Chris Calohan​

 

[Asher Kelman]

The movie, "The Bridge Over the River Kwai," while exceptionally good is only a part of my attraction to the Death March at Bataan, a march one of my dad's best friends made and unfortunately did not survive. It took my father years to overcome his hatred of the Japanese and only then to the level of civil tolerance.

I was out and about the other night when I saw our local old, though renovated movie theater was showing the film and after shooting its locale, went down to our local gateway and shot a companion image. It's certainly not the same kind of bridge but it is a nice bridge nonetheless.

Chris,

I think the Germans changed after the war. It was deep. Generations later, they are a transformed people. I know little to nothing about Japanese thinking beyond engineering and music pedagogy. One issue is that Japanese manners are so pervasive that it must take up a lot of social research to discover what is there beneath the business facade and the innocence of youth brought up in a non militaristic society.

Still, the cruelty of the forced marches and treatment of women are crimes seared into my mind that your comments have brought up again.

Still, it's only the yearly visiting of the war shrines to honor the fallen soldiers and the refusal to give proper restitution to "comfort women" are painful debris of that horrible time.

However, all Japanese I've met are as wonderful as anyone else, no matter what national origin. I dislike myself even thinking of such matters as it causes such dark thoughts. Likely as not, the nation is pretty well healed - I'd suspect far more than other countries that considered themselves victims but also acted inhumanely.

Movie Night at the Martin: Chris Calohan

The not, "The Bridge:" Chris Calohan​

Your first picture is "classic" in so many ways! The second heart-wrenching, like a war memorial to the fallen!

Asher