Gallipoli

• Directed by Peter Weir
• August 7, 1981 (Sydney) / August 13, 1981 (Australia)

Two Australian sprinters face the realities of war when they fight in the Gallipoli campaign during World War I.

I often say you should not go into a movie involving a historical event expecting facts. Use it as a starting point to learn more. Especially if the event is real but the characters are not. There are critiques of Gallipoli citing possible if not complete historical inaccuracies when it comes to the British. This is a dramatic presentation with themes as well as a message. It’s not a documentary.

Gallipoli is the type of movie that should have connected with me. Well produced and directed. Excellent cast. Something to say but not so overt with it that it becomes a slog or a lecture in the form of a dramatic narrative. This movie explores themes of Australian identity and in general a person’s disillusionment with war. It is also about boys growing into men. Yet while I can understand why it is liked, I myself cannot like it. I do not hate it, but it just never found a place in my mind.

This is a movie that takes its time. A great deal of time getting to where it’s going. It delves heavily into the pre-war lives of our two mains Archy Hamilton (Mark Lee) and Frank Dunne (Mel Gibson). It is to the point the only thing you do not learn is their astrological sign. The detail with which it follows their lives can be excruciating. This story is not a brisk race. This is not even a leisurely walk. It is an aimless drive along a heavily winding country backroad and you’re following the needlessly low speed limit. Gallipoli is an idea given what we see that should have been longer.

This is one of those things rather than trimming it down needed to be much longer. Not as a film, but as a limited run television series. It covers a great deal of ground and a great deal of character growth in around an hour and 40 minutes. All the focus is Archy and Frank. They have other characters introduced as well who are minimally important but more so to Frank than Archy. Archy is the mascot of the group. They look to like Archy but how or why needed expansion.

Archy feels like he was originally intended to be the main character with others being supporting. More was given to the Frank character because Gibson’s career was certainly on the upswing so I guess the rising star got more to do. Even the ending in my mind makes this more Frank’s story and less so Archy’s despite the film opening with Archy and his father. Then again Gibson also steals the show. You understand the characters and see how they grow and change-at least when it comes to Frank. And that only comes because of an assignment he’s given. At least in full. War is not a grand adventure and perhaps there are things worth dying for that are not connected to a armed conflict.

Visually they skimp on nothing here. The scenes are packed with people in authentic looking wear. A lot of little touches with the uniforms that make you feel you’re looking at something genuine. The sets are crowded and active. Weir makes you feel like you are there. He immerses you in the reality of the world. Then again, this was done and the day before CGI cooked things up on a keyboard. There might be a matte painting or three in this, but when you see a beach full of soldiers those soldiers as are any explosions.

Gallipoli is that rare film I think that needed to be longer in some fashion even though it felt like it took its time. So much gets covered here but there is not nearly enough developed. I can see why it might be a classic but it certainly is not for me.