Candice Dehnbostel: Sahara Reflection
Sahara obviously carries the ideals of the American government during World War II. The film covers the American way of life, the nature of the enemy, the roles our allies played in the war and more. America is portrayed as the leader and rescuer throughout the film. Joe Gunn, even by name, exemplifies American Exceptionalism. Gunn has God on his side. One soldier remarks how Gunn performed a miracle in finding water. He also rescues British and French allies, who in turn gladly put him in charge. He also represents the American ideology of responsibility to one’s country. Though alone in a desert, he wants to live in order to “fight again.� As Gunn and the allies fight the Germans, they are completely outnumbered. Yet Gunn declares it is his duty to delay the enemy, thereby continuing to fight. Their lives, of course, should be sacrificed in order to help the greater whole (the Allies) and the greater cause (spreading freedom to those oppressed).
Gunn shows compassion for the Italian prisoner when he adopts an American ideology. The Italian prisoner becomes a family man, one who is following his government’s orders only because he must, and so on. He is a victim of Mussolini. Oppositely, the German prisoner is treated terribly. He is portrayed as evil, inhumane and animal-like. The enemy ceases to be a person and becomes a beast, a “mad dog.� A Nazi even shoots a French Ally in the back, something unheard of in American warfare.
Racial tensions are felt throughout the film. The German prisoner considers a black soldier unclean and inferior. But, being good Americans (though only on film) the soldiers accept the black man and even find similarities between them. This shows a feeling of solidarity in the cause for fighting and integration and acceptance.
A strong tie to the home front is shown by the Allies. They talk of wives, girlfriends and children. The soldiers fight to for the “dignity of freedom� for their loved ones at home. The soldiers show what war does to a man. They cry, feel bad about a comrade’s death and respectfully bury the fallen. While, the men did not inherently want to kill others, they feel it is their duty to protect and serve their country so others do not have to die. Women are not shown in the film because they would not have been allowed to fight on the front lines like their brave, masculine counterparts. The idea of women is used to convey a sense of duty to one’s home and protections of virtue, honesty and love.