Expressive movement unit 1

The element of prolongation, created by tying movements, is orchestrated primarily on the level of shot composition. Interspersed elements, connected in this scene to the explosives, are created through language, writing and character movements.

The tying movement first appears as a line of sight, initiated by Epps’ unifying humming, which continues throughout two shots. Sergeant Dane’s gaze into off-screen and Epps voice connect the spaces of the jungle and the bridge. Following this, it is primarily the long shot of the bridge and the shot composition this produces that creates an image and a movement of tying together. The view is of the monumental size of the bridge, numerous oversized tall and broad stone pillars connect the cliffs of a mountain valley many hundreds of meters deep. Gracefully attached to the massive pillars is a thin wooden bridge, which the soldiers descend from on ropes. The supporting pillars of the bridge and the rope, the vertical wooden beams and the horizontal and vertical lines of the construction are characterized by their drawn out length, their function is either supporting, connecting, or bridging. The shots that follow, connected by Epps’ slow, protracted low-toned singing and humming are also characterized by graphic prolongations (horizontal and vertical lines). The action shown – tying on – done by three pairs of soldiers, puts the motifs of rope and explosive at the fore by threefold repetition.

The action of tying on is paralleled in the conversation between Sergeant Dane and Corporal Todd. While they tie explosives to the bridge, the conversation is about Todd’s alter ego, who goes by the name of “Burns.” Dane’s opening: “you keep reminding me of a guy I knew in the Infantry a few years ago" connects Burns to Todd. By comparing Todd and Burns, the characteristics told as belonging to Burns are ascribed to Todd, marking the object of conversation as metaphorical. The allegorical speech describes a disobedient soldier, who is associated with Todd. The explosive movement within this conversation, “Burns”, repeated three times, is now continued in the action.  Having arrived on top of the bridge, Todd lights a cigarette, close to him is a box with the writing “High Explosive", coupled closely to the figure of Todd. After he is sharply rebuked, he quickly puts out the cigarette. All elements expressing explosiveness are thus characterized by their short, interspersed appearance.

Todd’s integration into the group is brought about in a further conversation with Sergeant Dane and again characterized by continuous protractions. A long backwards track accompanies the two figures’ return to the jungle. In the preceding shot the other soldiers can be seen walking along the same path; they are carrying a cable spool and laying the long explosive fuse behind them as they go.