Sahara Reflection
The movie Sahara is an ideal propaganda film; it portrays all of the six categories outlined by the government. The most prevalent of the categories are the United Nations and the Nature of the Enemy. In the case of the United Nations, the movie portrays a relationship between the allied soldiers that defies any borders or oceans. I think this is a strong and important image to show to the American people back home because it gives them a sense of a strong unity and a greater confidence in the armed forces, which is obviously a goal of the OWI. Also the enemy in this movie, the German, is show as very ruthless and uncooperative even though they keep him alive. He is a liar, a cheat, and ultimately looks down upon the allied soldiers. If you look at the way he is dressed he is given a clean cut look which only adds to his superiority. I was also surprised that he was a good looking man, considering a goal of the movie would be to give him a negative image. Another crucial scene in the movie is when the German refuses to be searched by someone of “inferior race� while referring to the Sudanese soldier. But what is important here is that the leader of the allied soldiers defends him giving an important image of equality among them. Another side to the Nature of the Enemy is within the Italian soldier. He plays to the hearts of the soldiers to keep him alive, but as soon as the German enters the picture he is ready to turn on them. Not until the German soldier stabs him in the back does he decide to be true to the people who saved his life.
By far the most interesting and diverse character in this film is the Sudanese soldier. When we first meet him his language is very simple and he seems almost illiterate. But as the movie goes on he plays a vital role in keeping everyone alive by finding water. His demeanor is also interesting; he is a loyal and very eager to please giving a very positive impression of an African American soldier. I also found it unusual that the soldier said he had been in the army for 20 years but he wore no visible metals or inclination of a higher ranking. At the end of the movie the soldier pays the ultimate price in capturing the German to protect their secret and the other soldiers’ lives. All in all this character gives the impression of equality within the armed forces, which according to history did not exist. Therefore it gives the community a false impression of how big a role African Americans played in the front lines of the war effort.
Allison Veire