I got the impression the the scene served to show Colonel Dax that there's still hope for the human race. After his confrontation with the general, Dax had to have a very low estimation of humanity. Walking down the street, he heard music from the bar, stopped to peek in, and saw some of his troops and the German girl. When she began to sing, at first they were mocking and cat-calling her, but then started crying and singing along with her (evidently, the song she sang was well-known to both French and Germans). Dax nodded his head, as if realizing that his troops had just become better men than they'd been a couple of minutes ago, then walked on.
shareThat's a great take on it.
shareYes. I also think it showed how the men themselves were prisoners of the war and that the young girl's innocent singing, which most of them probably didn't even understand, reminded them of home and their wives, mothers and families.
BTW. the young girl was the future Mrs. Kubrick. I could be wrong, but I think they met on the film?
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Yes, and also that it led to the absolute last scene in which Dax takes pity on the men and tells his assistant to let the men stay in the hall a bit longer before telling them they have to go back to the front.
My real name is Jeff
Seeing a beautiful victim of their own war efforts, they became ashamed of their own coldness and brutality - a coldness and brutality not all that different from the one that killed their own fellow soldiers. They realized their own complicity in the dirtiness of war, and were moved to solidarity.
shareThis.
shareThis.
shareGerman woman's song, The Faithful Hussar.
A faithful soldier, without fear,
He loved his girl for one whole year,
For one whole year and longer yet,
His love for her, he'd ne'er forget.
This youth to foreign land did roam,
While his true love, fell ill at home.
Sick unto death, she no one heard.
Three days and nights she spoke no word.
And when the youth received the news,
That his dear love, her life may lose,
He left his place and all he had,
To see his love, went this young lad...
He took her in his arms to hold,
She was not warm, forever cold.
Oh quick, oh quick, bring light to me,
Else my love dies, no one will see...
Pallbearers we need two times three,
Six farmhands they are so heavy.
It must be six of soldiers brave,
To carry my love to her grave.
A long black coat, I must now wear.
A sorrow great, is what I bear.
A sorrow great and so much more,
My grief it will end nevermore.
*goosebumps*
"We are the dreamer who dreams and then lives in the dream. This is true for the entire universe."
That's a nice idea, but I am skeptical that such men would be that self-aware at that time. I belive the scene was meant to show that the cold, indifferent and cruel countenance they wore as a sort of cloak against the pain and fear they were enduring was briefly torn away by the sight and sound of the young woman, and they were moved to feel sympathy and affection for her rather than the scorn they felt earlier.
They were, in effect, also letting their feelings for themselves show.
My real name is Jeff
I agree that Kubrick likes to leave scenes up for interpretation, so here's my take on it.
As far as the story goes, I think Dax was looking through the window expecting the worst. Like the soldiers stripping the girl naked and abusing her, or something similar since he was already disgusted with war, the military and the "human race" in general.
What he witnessed though, was a beautiful moment, so that gave him the power to just continue his job and hope for a better future.
As far as philosophy goes, I think it was meant to show us that we're basically all the same. Germans or French, men or women, soldiers or singers, we're all humans and we can all relate to each other, regardless of the different languages or ethnic differences.
To add: when I watch it, hear it, I think the soldiers are feeling they are human, too, for an intense moment. A kind of victory, after what has happened, and Dax sees it.
"I can understand it, but I don't like it none!"--Cheyenne.
As you have duplicated your post, I will duplicate my reply:
I think your view of all the men seeing their loved ones faces on the woman is a stretch, but them realizing it could be their last song is very possible.
I particularly agree with the idea that the scene is used to show the beauty and peace when they are not killing and doing ugly things.
I also think the Fact that it is a German woman is not a coincidence, and that while they are fighting a war against this evil enemy, the Germans are in fact people just like them, and a beautiful innocent girl singing in an innocent way is a nice way to demonstrate this.
Some people dismissed that the girl is German in their interpretations. Thats kinda faulty. I dont know what that scene means exactly, but i will go with the guy who said that it showed that Germans are just people too, and dunno maybe to bring contrast to them and the two heartless French generals? That the last ones were/are more dangerous to them than the germans themselves.
shareI think it's pretty clear to me. While she's simply an object to those men they wolf-whistle and shout, but as soon as she opens her mouth and sings there's a realisation.
She's an ordinary person, caught in a dangerous situation she didn't ask to be in. She has no choice. She's stuck there, and her future is uncertain. Basically, they're looking at themselves, and it's tragic.
She reflects the true message of the film and the whole problem working class men faced during World War I. They had no way out as long as the war went on. They had little hope as long as so many men were dying and making no ground. They were subject to the whims of generals and politicians with no idea of their predicament, nor a care for the suffering they faced.
That's her, and that's them. I think it's an amazing way to end the film, and shows again why Kubrick was incredible.
Also, let's not forget that "music soothes the savage beast" as the saying goes. the soldiers were going from thoughtless killing machines to human beings again who express emotions.
share[deleted]
This is a great question and I think dtgore has given the best answer so far, illustrating what a brilliant ending this is for the film. It really does encapsulate & restate the movie's theme(s). The audience sees exactly what Dax sees: at first, the objectification of this poor girl and anticipation of the possibility of cruelty. But this is followed by a realization of common humanity when they soldiers begin to sing along. Throughout the movie, cruelty is rooted in objectification, whether it's the French objectification of the Germans, or Cpl. Paris's objectification of the soldiers as mere fodder. Or the executed soldiers' status as objects/stand-ins for the "crime" of cowardice. (I'm sure there are other examples as well.) The only solution is to treat one another as human beings, not objects. To realize we are all in this together. I think this is what Kubrick is trying to tell us in this wonderful film, and this message is reinforced in it's final scene.
sharethanks dtgore for your wonderful interpretation. this is one of my favourite 5 films ive seen and that final scene is one of the main reasons and you've put into words what ive never been able to before. you've pinpointed what makes it so tragic and moving.
it is a masterpiece there can be no argument
"gentlemen make your lives extraordinary"
thanks dtgore for your wonderful interpretation. this is one of my favourite 5 films ive seen and that final scene is one of the main reasons and you've put into words what ive never been able to before. you've pinpointed what makes it so tragic and moving.
it is a masterpiece there can be no argument
I liked dtgore's explanation the best. I was not expecting this scene and when she started to sing and the men's faces changed, I got all weepy. What a beautiful, powerful ending to a truly great movie.
shareIts got multiple meanings. Everyone interprets it their own way. I saw it as Col. Dax realising that humanity can survive the war but it has to disguise itself with a brutal facade. Also it shows the men that they are not the only victims of the war and they weep for the fellow victims. Thats a very poor attempt to articualte what I thought about it but yeah.
"You haven't got the feel of this at all, lad. Use all your voices. When I bellow, bellow back."
All of you have given great suggestions about why the German girl sang for the French troops. ----- I have seen "Paths of Glory" so many times, but yet I start to get a little misty, every time, when she starts to sing. She's so scared to death to sing in front of enemy soldiers, but she still does it. ----- I feel why the troops get so sad as she sings, they know full well that they are going to be sent back into battle and are scared to death that they have to face the horror again. ----- ----- Rusty
"On screen Winona stands out like a polar bear on black velvet" Timothy Leary about his Goddaughter
that girl is the only german person shown in the movie. I guess the scene is about the humanity of the ranks, and that of the victims. It tells us that those germans who are shooting at the french are people with frailties as well. Regardless what the generals plan and plot, it all comes down to simple people made of flesh and who can cry and this is when all those characters realize that.
share