The Fog of War details the life of former secretary of defense Robert McNamara through many momentous events in the nations history including both World Wars, the Cold War and the Vietnam War. From these experiences, McNamara draws 11 lessons:
#1-Empathize with your enemy
#2-Rationality will not save us
#3-There's something beyond one's self
#4-Maximize efficiency
#5-Proportionality should be a guideline in war
#6-Get the data
#7-Belief and seeing are often both wrong
#8-Be prepared to re-examine your reasoning
#9-In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil
#10-Never say never
#11-You can't change human nature
As the film progresses McNamara takes us through the lessons as they flow with his life. He created this film in order to help explain his views on war and how they have progressed through history. This film helps him to explain the point of the war, and to help understand why things occured as they did, and what he took from it. Furthermore, it gives him a voice to proclaim his view of the war.
A shift can be seen in the overall idea of the film after the fifth lesson. Here is when McNamara makes the transition from a soldier, commanding forces, to one living back home. It can be seen as the transition back. The following lessons are more life lessons as opposed to the rules of war that are initially put forth. This film makes a transition from a war documentary, to one that provides lessons, and instructions for those who did not experience war. In both sets though, McNamara works to inform the viewer about what truly happened as opposed to reading through a textbook.
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The Fog of War details the life of former secretary of defense Robert McNamara through many momentous events in the nations history including both World Wars, the Cold War and the Vietnam War. As the film progresses McNamara takes us through eleven lessons as they flow with his life. Ultimately, he created this film in order to protect his legacy. Because, McNamara was one of the most controversial figures during his time as secretary of defense. Throughout the film, he takes a tone of defense, and ignorance. For example, he claims he did not think he approved of the use of Agent Orange, and when asked whose fault this war was he says he doesn't wish to blame; however, he says it was the president. I believe he agreed to make this film, because if gave him a chance to say he may have made mistakes, but he is only human. Furthermore, it gives him a voice to defend his actions.
ReplyDeleteA shift can be seen in the overall idea of the film after the fifth lesson. Here is when McNamara makes the transition from a providing life lessons, to becoming the monster he claims he isn't. It can be seen as the transition into his hideous nature. The fifth lesson is that proportionality should be a guideline in war. Here he discusses the fire bombings of Japan. He attempts to rationalize the killing of hundreds of thousands of civilians and brushes it off. This is when McNamara becomes the monster he is trying to distance himself from. Everything from here on, which encompasses Vietnam, is despicable.