MovieChat Forums > Gunga Din (1939) Discussion > A lens for the war in Iraq

A lens for the war in Iraq

posted 18 years ago by nocompassneeded
17 replies | jump to latest

Don't you think that the parallel between Gunga Din and the war in Iraq is pretty amazing? All we have to do is switch names to fit the roles: the colonial Brits could easily be the Americans, the Indians who support the monarchy (including Gunga Din) could be the Iraqi officials, military and police, the Thuggies could stand in for the terrorists, and finally the temple, with all of its alluring gold, could easily represent oil. Given the wealth of possible associations that keep this film so close to our present situation, I have to say that it stands the test of time. Even though we don't have to agree with the point of view, it does pose a lot of fascinating questions about how much (or how little) the world has changed. It proves that history is cyclical.

What do you think?

[–] jimi99 18 years ago

a brilliant observation

"SEDAGIVE?"

[–] RichN36 18 years ago

Very good observation I was thinking the same thing even if I in favor of whats going on over in Iraq. I did see the same things. Even the Troup Searge at the end would be in corlation to whats going on now. The Final Troop Serge will rout the Terrorist and bring an end to the War..

Maybe Godzilla... in in all of us?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] talasonic 18 years ago

First of all, your post has nothing to do with the movie. Secondly, Thuggies will take over the world.

[–] einsteinfile 18 years ago

Jeez, yes! I just saw this film, for the umpteenth time, Saturday morning on TCM, and thought the same about the parallels to current day events in the MidEast. The Thugees (a violent sect in India, finally wiped out by the Brits in the 19th century...we get the word 'thug' from thugee....pronounced 'tug-ee') were exact duplicates of the moslem terrorists of today! Amazing. Great story, great film, always enjoyable!

[–] john-shubeck 18 years ago

Probably a number of very large differences, one being the fact that and hindu nation-state has never attacked a foreign country. Second, the dynamic is different in that the thuggee were an offshoot, rebelious hindu cult; different in many ways from the Shiite/Sunni divide.

I think everyone's mind has to be careful of this weird western need to police the world. "the last surge of troops will root out the evil." Who cares: our corporate slave state built on fear and consumption seems like a grim alternative to fundementalism.

[–] rchrdstvr 18 years ago

Not even close. The Iraq police action is about the Shi'a vs the Sunni and us playing referee. As with all middle east squabbles, it's about retaliation and revenge, not religious fanatics. The PLO and Israel and UK and Ireland are examples of this, including the suicide bombing.

Richard

[–] nocompassneeded 18 years ago

Do you really believe that this war has nothing to do with religious fanaticism? I'd say that it's fueled by religious fanatics, including some of our own.

[–] getemthatsright 17 years ago

as a 3rd gen British Indian and hindu I do not like India being compared to Iraq or any other islamic nation for that matter.

[–] nocompassneeded 17 years ago

India has plenty of Muslims last time I checked and that population is growing whether the Hindus, Christians or Buddhists like it or not. If we're looking at religion and nationalism, Nepal is really more of a Hindu nation, don't you think?

By the way, the original idea in the post was to compare the nature of the power struggle. The brand of religion has less bearing on the matter than the way the religion is handled, especially in the face of what could be called colonial aspirations.

[–] rmax304823 17 years ago

What does it matter if a handful of movie fans (or anyone else) compares a Hindu nation to an Islamic nation? That war has already been fought, although the hatred is still simmering, as your post demonstrates.

You miss the point of Kipling's unpretentious poem. Whatever the differences in our race or our ethnic allegiances, we are all united in our common misery and in the prospect of death.

[–] reenozaur 17 years ago

the parallel is also in the representation of the British/American in both cases. i.e how they fail to mention their own part in the violence that's brought by colonialism/war on another country.. These old films may remind people of a mythical time, but for me personally, they just bring lots of old stereotypes..

[–] omoplata2 17 years ago

If you mean to say that the Thugs are as much of a British "invention" as "Iraqi terrorists" are an American one, then yes. Otherwise, forget about it.

[–] nocompassneeded 17 years ago

That's an entirely ahistorical statement. It's documentated that the Thugee cult did exist and it's clear that Iraqi terrorists do abound, as do terrorists of other nationalities, including American. Now whether you agree with their characterization or not, that's another story.

However, to simply say that neither threat existed or exists is to take skepticism to the point of absurdity. Therefore, omoplata2, the only thing invented here is your knowledge of history and it's a poor invention indeed.

[–] blight45 17 years ago

"Even though we don't have to agree with the point of view, it does pose a lot of fascinating questions about how much (or how little) the world has changed. It proves that history is cyclical."

Get a grip; its *beep* movie, a bit of entertainment. It doesn't prove squat.

[–] SipteaHighTea 16 years ago

I can imagine Sgt. Cutter wanting to leave the service, so he can get a well paid job in Iraq such as pumping out the oil, supplying goods and services to the regular soldiers, or working as a mercenary with one of the private companies. Sgt. MacChesney would be staying in the army and Sgt Balletine leaving the army because his girlfriend doesn't want him to get kill.

[–] GhostRiver 15 years ago

Eh, parallels are weak, I agree. However, it is similiar on a superficial level that can be applied to myriad moves--it's a story about imperialism. America is an empire and projects is power with a military. That's about it.