"Breaker Morant" co-screenwriter/director Bruce Beresford is Australian. For him, this film, based on a true story, was his exploration and commentary of his own nations history and politics.
"Paths of Glory" was loosely based on a true story which occurred in the French Army during World War I. This was Stanley Kubricks exploration of the nature of man.
I too noticed a few similiar themes in both. However, "Breaker Morant" is also a commentary on British colonialism and imperialism of the late 19th early 20th century and the lengths those in power will go to satisfy their greed.
Both are fantastic, **** star films.
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18 years ago
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jpaulgagen
18 years ago
Breaker Morant is based heavily on the book "Scapegoats of the Empire" written by Lt Witton. As a result of the ensuing outcry the Australian Army abolishes the death penalty which greatly effects the reputation and behaviour of Australian troops in WWI. Essentially it is seen as one of the early steps of Australia becoming independant of the British Empire.
However, there is no doubt that Capt Morant and Lts Witton and Fitzgerald did in fact commit the crimes that they were accused of, and their only defence was the "Nuremburg defence" (I was only following orders). There is also little doubt that they were railroaded in the court martial with key evidence and witnesses witheld.
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yellowdischarge
17 years ago
However, there is no doubt that Capt Morant and Lts Witton and Fitzgerald did in fact commit the crimes that they were accused of, and their only defence was the "Nuremburg defence" (I was only following orders). There is also little doubt that they were railroaded in the court martial with key evidence and witnesses witheld.
Yeah, but they were being tried by the people who gave those orders. Ironic.
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teacher_tom516
17 years ago
Actually it's yet another British story.
The British and French were fighting IIRC the Seven Years War (French and Indian War in America) and one of their top admirals, John Byng, let his fleet to relieve the beleaguered island of Minorca in the Mediterranean. To make a long story short he was unsuccessful in his fight with the French fleet and he was forced to retreat to repair damage. Meanwhile the island fell and the British Admiralty blamed Byng. Nevermind that Byng hadn't the resources to conduct a successful campaign in the first place or that he had been cautious precisely because an earlier admiral had been so daring that he had gotten himself into trouble with grevious loss.
Byng was court martialed and found guilty of not doing his utmost to take the fight to the enemy. He was executed by firing squad.
Voltaire sarcastically commented that the English 'execute an admiral from time to time, to encourage the others'.
Tom516
http://home.wxs.nl/~pdavis/Byng.htm
"It is not enough to like a film. You must like it for the right reasons."
- Pierre Rissient
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