Miracle At St. Anna, 2008 - One Of The Most Underrated War Films Of All Time. A Spike Lee Film
Warning: This article contains graphic images and violence, please proceed with caution.
Miracle at St. Anna is a 2008 American–Italian epic war film directed by Spike Lee, and written by James McBride, based on McBride's 2003 novel of the same name. The film stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Pierfrancesco Favino and Valentina Cervi. Set primarily in Italy during German-occupied Europe in World War II, the film tells the story of four Buffalo Soldiers of the 92nd Infantry Division who seek refuge in a small Tuscan village, where they form a bond with the residents. The story is presented as a flashback, as one survivor, Hector Negron (Alonso), reflects upon his experiences in a frame story set in 1980s New York. Several real-life events that occurred during the war, such as the Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre, are re-enacted, placing Miracle at St. Anna within the genre of historical fiction.
The film unfolds with an air of enigmatic tension, immediately drawing the audience into a world of intrigue and unexpected twists. The opening scene presents an ordinary postal worker who, inexplicably, becomes a harbinger of violence by abruptly and fatally shooting a man seeking to purchase stamps. The weapon of choice, a German Luger P38, carries historical weight, hinting at a deeper connection that is yet to be unveiled.
Background
As the layers of the narrative unravel, the arrested postal worker, Hector Negron, emerges as a complex character whose past casts a long shadow over his present actions. It is revealed that the victim was not just a random passerby, but someone Negron identified as a nemesis from his traumatic experiences during World War Two. The horrors of battle and the atrocities witnessed in the Italian theater of war have left Negron haunted, plagued by severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This psychological burden becomes a central theme as the film delves into the intricacies of Negron's mind, exploring the lasting scars of conflict and the human capacity for violence and retribution.
Adding to the enigma, the plot thickens when detectives searching Negron's home stumble upon a missing artifact with historical significance, one that had been appraised back in the 1980s at a staggering value of more than $5 million. This revelation introduces an element of high-stakes intrigue, as the artifact's worth in today's currency is estimated to surpass an astonishing $13 million. The artifact serves as a tangible link between Negron's wartime experiences and the present-day mystery, hinting at a connection that transcends time and delves into the realms of greed, obsession, and hidden motives.
As the film progresses, it weaves a tapestry of intersecting threads—Negron's haunted past, the complex dynamics of war-related trauma, the lure of immense wealth, and the chilling echoes of unresolved conflicts. The audience is invited on a journey that explores the depths of human psychology and the intricate webs of fate that bind individuals across decades. Ultimately, the film poses profound questions about the enduring impact of history on human lives and the intricate interplay between personal vendettas, psychological trauma, and the allure of hidden treasures. With each revelation, the mystery deepens, unveiling layers of complexity that mirror the multifaceted nature of the human experience itself.
The film is arguably one of the greatest World War Two films of all time rivaling even the likes of Saving Private Ryan. The film is very long and slow at parts but thrilling as information surrounding the death of the unknown man becomes revealed to the audience.
The Film’s Introduction
The film's captivating narrative commences with a gripping depiction of combat that immerses the audience into the harrowing world of the U.S. 92nd Infantry Division pitted against German soldiers. The masterful fusion of cinematography, musical score, and exceptional acting collaboratively brings this opening battle scene to life with astonishing realism. Every element, from the visual aesthetics to the stirring musical accompaniment, contributes to the visceral experience that transports viewers onto the battlefield itself, making the intense engagement between these opposing forces palpably felt.
In a poignant moment of vulnerability, the film takes a poignant turn as one of the soldiers breaks down, overwhelmed by the brutality of war and yearning for his mother's comfort. This emotionally charged moment serves as a powerful touchstone that resonates with the audience on a deeply human level. The soldier's desperate cries for his mother evoke a universal chord, tapping into the wellspring of empathy within every viewer and reminding them of the stark humanity that persists even amidst the chaos of combat. It's a testament to the film's storytelling prowess that it can evoke such a heartfelt reaction and foster a connection between the audience and the characters' raw emotions.
Yet, as the opening battle scene unfolds, the sense of dread is artfully heightened by layers of nuance that extend beyond the battlefield itself. The film astutely delves into the systemic discrimination that these soldiers face, even as they stand united on the frontlines. By revealing that these valiant soldiers are under the command of white superiors who fail to acknowledge their contributions, the film underscores the sobering reality of racism's persistence even amidst the shared adversity of warfare. This injustice amplifies the tension and emotional weight of the scene, as the audience grapples with the knowledge that these brave men not only confront enemy fire but also the deeply entrenched prejudice within their own ranks.
The impending suicide mission looms as a haunting specter, casting a shadow over the soldiers' valiant efforts. The realization that they are thrust into an almost impossible situation, ordered to undertake a perilous mission with little chance of success, adds an extra layer of intensity to the narrative. The film deftly intertwines this grave mission with the soldiers' personal struggles, effectively juxtaposing the enormity of their sacrifice with the poignant threads of their individual stories.
In summation, the film's opening battle scene is a masterclass in immersive storytelling, seamlessly blending visual artistry, emotive music, and authentic acting to plunge the audience into the visceral reality of war. By weaving in moments of vulnerability, systemic discrimination, and the weight of an almost insurmountable mission, the film forges a profound connection with its viewers, evoking empathy, introspection, and a deep appreciation for the sacrifices of those who faced not only external adversaries but also the internal battles of prejudice and injustice.
A review by Roger Ebert expresses how Miracle at St. Anna has some of the best battle scenes in modern cinema, on a par with Saving Private Ryan but more tightly focused in a specific situation rather than encompassing a huge panorama. Ebert explains how Miracle at St. Anna contains richness, anger, history, sentiment, fantasy, reality, violence and life. Maybe too much. Better than too little.
The Roger Ebert review also highlights and explains the opening battle describing how the four soldiers (main characters) find themselves standing in a river, with a Nazi loudspeaker blasting the sultry voice of "Axis Sally," who promises them sexy women and racial equality in Germany. Their white superior officer orders artillery strikes on their position because he can't believe any Black soldiers could have possibly have advanced so far. The scene is very emotionally riveting because as an audience member, you even begin to question your own allegiance to the United States, the propaganda announced by the Germans winds up being very accurate about the U.S.’s flaws and hits very close to home.
The film also shows how the four characters encounter white soldiers and white civilians at home before being deployed and how, even as soldiers fighting for the United States, they still face large amounts of racism and discrimination at home.
The film is a good reminder of the horror of war and how fascism and political extremism is horrible for not only soldiers but for innocent civilians, women, and children, who get caught in the crossfire. Those in positions of authority do all they can to stomp out opposition even if it means using violence and extinguishing large amounts of life to prove a point.
The Film’s Quality
Traversing class, race, and geography, Miracle at St. Anna is above all a hymn to the brotherhood of man and the power to do good that lives in each of us. It reveals to us a little-known but fascinating moment in history through the eyes and imagination of a gifted writer, James McBride. Most importantly, Miracle At St. Anna expresses how violence, trauma, and injustice have everlasting effects that can last for decades. Those that perform injustice and escape consequences may be able to do so for years and maybe even their whole life with the only authority to answer to being God himself.
It is an incredibly emotional film, chronicling the atrocities of the Nazi’s during the war, the horrible treatment of African-Americans who fought in segregated units, along with the turmoil in Italy as family members, brothers, and relatives fought against each other due to their political beliefs and different allegiances either to Germany or the U.S. The film also exposes how white U.S. commanders will ignore the advice of more qualified Black soldiers due to their own ingrained racism leading to the unnecessary deaths of American soldiers.
The film unfortunately was met with mostly negative reviews from critics and drew controversy in Italy over historical inaccuracies. The film did however, receive an "A" grade from the Boston Herald, calling it a "masterpiece" and a "classic American WWII movie that both acknowledges the rousing tradition of such war epics as The Longest Day (1962) and The Big Red One (1980) and adds something new: paying tribute to the World War II African-American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The History Behind The Film
In terms of the controversy surrounding the film, Italians took offence to one historical inaccuracy involving one of the scenes in the film. The Sant'Anna di Stazzema massacre (The namesake of the film) was a German war crime committed in the hill village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema in Tuscany, Italy, in the course of an operation against the Italian resistance movement during the Italian Campaign of World War II. On 12 August 1944 the Waffen-SS murdered about 560 local villagers and refugees, including more than a hundred children, and burned their bodies. These crimes have been defined as voluntary and organized acts of terrorism by the Military Tribunal of La Spezia and the highest Italian court of appeal. Variety explains how the controversy behind the film stems from the massacre being prompted by the betrayal of an Italian partisan named Rodolfo, who secretly becomes a Nazi spy.
Despite all the animosity stirred by his war drama “Miracle at St. Anna” — which links Italian resistance fighters to a Nazi massacre in the pic’s titular Tuscan village — the mayor of St. Anna, made Lee an honorary citizen in 2008. “It’s true that the film depicts a partisan who betrayed civilians,” said St. Anna Mayor Michele Silicani in 2008, “But above it is the tale of those partisans who fought to the death to defend civilians.”
Conclusion
While the film mainly follows four Buffalo Soldiers, the film also follows a group of partisans who, with their limited resources, do all they can to fight for innocent civilians including women and children.
The film does an extremely good job of showing the turmoil in Italy caused by fascism, misinformation, wartime secrets, and collaboration with the enemy, as friends and relatives who have different personal interests, goals, and political affiliations fight against each other both knowingly and unknowingly.
At its core, the film serves as a poignant and timely reminder of the haunting realities of war and the insidious influence of ideologies such as fascism and political extremism. It unveils a chilling narrative that underscores the sheer horror these belief systems can engender, often leading ardent supporters down a dark path that culminates in the commission of unfathomable acts of violence against the most vulnerable—innocent civilians, women, and children. The film's exploration of this theme resonates deeply with contemporary societal discussions, forcing us to confront the unsettling truth that blind allegiance to dangerous ideologies can unravel the very fabric of humanity.
As the plot unfolds, it shines a harsh spotlight on the corrosive impact of power-seeking within those in positions of authority. The characters portrayed exemplify how the allure of authority and control can act as a dangerous distraction, causing individuals to lose sight of their ethical compass and embrace a ruthless pursuit of dominance. The film poignantly illustrates how the quest for power becomes so all-consuming that opposition, even in the form of dissenting voices advocating for justice and compassion, is perceived as a threat to be mercilessly stamped out. This portrayal draws parallels to historical and contemporary instances where the ruthlessness of power-hungry leaders has led to widespread suffering, as they prioritize their agenda over human lives.
In an era marked by political polarization and the resurgence of extremist ideologies, the film's themes resonate with a potent urgency. It serves as a stark cautionary tale, underscoring how the seemingly insurmountable chasm between differing beliefs can escalate into a nightmare of violence and devastation. By showcasing the twisted logic that justifies heinous acts in the name of these ideologies, the film confronts us with the uncomfortable reality that human beings are capable of perpetrating unimaginable cruelties when blinded by dogma and the pursuit of control.
