INDECENT EXPLOSION

Days of Glory

War films almost unanimously adhere to the opposing tones of triumph and tragedy. (Dr. Strangelove and its jeering ilk deal more directly with the larger existential irony of an impending apocalypse.) The first 30 minutes of Saving Private Ryan tend to leave audiences feeling desecrated as the harrowing experience of D-Day becomes viscerally realized before them. From there, the movie begins a gradual uphill climb to the opposite end of the continuum. The final image, a magnificent American flag waving in the breeze, signifies the optimism in honoring the memories of fallen soldiers. Consider that model against Days of Glory (or Indigènes as it’s known overseas). This downbeat saga also recalls the heroism of World War II fighters who opposed their Nazi foe, but their efforts went unnoticed—and their sacrifices were forgotten.

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