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Master and
Commander:
The far side of the world
20th Century Fox (2003)
Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany
Director: Peter Weir
Review by Jenni van Wageningen
The year is 1805 and England is battling France for
control of the seas. Jack Aubrey is the intrepid captain of the HMS
Surprise which is on a mission to destroy a French man of war lurking in
the foggy waters off the Brazilian coast.
The first battle severely damages the HMS Surprise
and it is clear that they are outmatched by the better equipped French
frigate. Yet the headstrong and forever optimistic Aubrey refuses to
give up and continues to track the Acheron around Cape Horn into the
Pacific Ocean, enduring ferocious storms, threats of mutinies and dead
calms.
But this is no mere swashbuckling tale of battles on the high seas. It
is a finely crafted and thematically rich epic adventure, based on two
novels by Patrick O’Brian.
The historical realism is quite breathtaking with its
intricate depiction of naval warfare strategies 200 years ago. It also
captures the raw discomfort of life on a warship under sail. Although
the graphic battle scenes with the inevitable injury and loss of human
life stop short of gratuitous violence, we are left in no doubt about
the pain suffered and the need for stoic endurance. The clothing and the
uniforms also show a meticulous attention to historical detail, and all
the special effects are very believable.
In fact the sights, sounds and action are so
convincing that in one Adelaide cinema a number of patrons displayed
such severe symptoms of seasickness that the show had to be interrupted!
Viewer beware!
Most action movies rely on two-dimensional characters. Master and
Commander is a notable exception.
Aubrey is a charismatic leader who inspires his men
and unites them to achieve victory. He is ambitious and brave, with a
sense of humour and real heart for the men in his charge. He retains
their loyalty even when he urges them into difficult situations.
Leadership is a strong theme throughout as Aubrey struggles to balance
the demands of loyalty and patriotism, duty and responsibility, as well
as his professional and personal pride. The finely tuned hierarchical
ship-board community structure is clearly based on mutual respect and
dependence.
Aubrey’s best friend is the ship’s surgeon, a
naturalist with a scientific motive for visiting South America. Stephen
Maturin is a contrast to the captain, acting as his conscience as he
questions his friend about where duty ends and irresponsibility begins.
These two characters have complex inner lives, and their relationship
with its conflicting demands of friendship and duty is at the heart of
the story.
This is also a war film, but rather different from
the usual cliché-driven and propaganda-packed productions. War is taken
for granted, as a fact of life, without any examination of whether it is
right or wrong. Instead other lessons are offered as we are shown how
men cope and grow in character through their commitment, struggles and
suffering.
Master and Commander also suggests the idea of
providence, that God is overseeing and directing the ship and its men.
The sailor who had a silver plate inserted in the hole in his skull
makes prophetic utterances from time to time; and the doctor and the
captain debate the usefulness of science for explaining everything in
life.
The movie does not have a slick and predictable
ending, for we finally discover that the battle is not really over.
Although the French ship has been captured, it appears that the captain
of the vessel has managed to escape. But even this does not deter the
indomitable Aubrey! In life too, it is important not to grow weary, but
with God’s help to continue the fight against the enemy. There will be
successes, but challenges continue to loom on the horizon.
In short, this is a particularly see-worthy movie!
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