To what extent does Breaker Morant seem to legitimise war crimes Essay Example

men on their side and the characters themselves. However, there is no explanation as to why they are in Boer territory or consideration of what could have happened if an ambush did not take place at the farmhouse. The pivotal moment in Morant's transformation into a "madman" is depicted when he finds Hunt's mutilated body, which triggers his revenge against the Boers who he holds accountable for Hunt's death.

The execution of Visser and Hesse's death are viewed as justifiable crimes of passion. The presentation of "war crimes" in the film lacks shock value and does not highlight the pain of the Boers due to the absence of specific details of their deaths. The audience is not shown Visser or the Boer prisoners being shot, only their lifeless bodies are seen. Beresford's approach eliminates the need for viewers to contemplate the suffering of the Boers.

We do not witness the explicit murder of Hesse, but rather we see only a brief shot of his body with his eyes open. This moment is distinctly separate from the scene where we see Handcock firing the deadly shot from far away. The attention is consistently on Morant and his comrades, shifting away from the individuals who suffered because of their actions. The movie aims to prove that "war changes men's natures," and the brutality of war makes it impossible to pass judgment. Thomas's defense of the three offenders is based on the notion that "we cannot hope to judge such matters unless we, ourselves, have been submitted to the same."

It is the men on trial who are being accused of provocation. Beresford does not excuse the immorality of

war crimes but concedes that Witton is worried about Visser's shooting and distressed by the execution of the Boers who surrendered. Morant also expresses unease when informed by Taylor that they should not take prisoners. Nevertheless, we are troubled as we witness Taylor killing the Boers in the field, which may explain why the prosecution's case cannot be fully dismissed.

Thomas acknowledges that the murders were committed and confirms that Breaker Morant does not justify war crimes by suggesting that anything goes in war. The movie does not condone shooting unarmed prisoners of war but does challenge the ethics of the 'take no prisoners' directive.

Acknowledging the ultimate barbarity of war, Beresford places greater emphasis on the injustices of war, resulting in a lessened view of the crimes committed by those involved. Instead, our concern is directed towards the "normal men" who commit these crimes under the belief that anything is justified in such an "abnormal situation," making the tragedy and horrors seem less significant to us.