TackleAction!

I agree with your first comment.

I think the game of Russian roulette is used to symbolize what happens during a war. When playing the game, the outcome is random-you could live or you could die same. That's also what happens during war.

Additionally, I think it symolizes how the war takes a toll on a soldier's sanity. When playing Russian roulette, Michael and Steve look terrified. They seem afraid of the outcome-Steve shows it the most. Nick, on the other hand, seems to show no fear. I think the way the men react show, on different levels, how one's sanity is affected during war.

Also, for the 3 men, it seems the game of russian roulette played a larger roles in their experiences/outcomes than the war itself.

Does that say it's not the war that kills you, it's your choices?

I would have to argue that soldiers in war have little choice as to what they can or can't do. I'm sure it's more like they're told what to do. Assuming that you're talking about the war.

If you're talking about choices they make after they're discharged, I still think sanity has something to do with it. They were all affected so differently and look at how they were living after the war. All 3 made completely different choices because they were all affected so differently.

But going to war is inherently a choice. You can always run away, break your leg, file paperwork to be a 'conscientious objector", etc.

And in the movie, all 3 characters volunteered.

What i meant by "trivialize the experience" in my original post is that in russian roulette the entire experience of war is just the pulling of the trigger. Because putting the gun to your head is like signing up, and then the result is either coming home dead/alive/wounded.

I don't think it's always a choice. You can only defer for so long, run away and then do jail time, break your leg and heal in 2 months etc. before you're forced to go-think of drafts. Sure, you can volunteer as these men did, but I don't think it's always a choice. Anyway, that point is getting us too far off topic.

I don't think war is just like pulling the trigger. I think the game symbolizes the whole experience of war not just one part of it.

Why?

I don't think that The whole game repeats itself every day during a war. It's only the kill or be killed part (the pulling the trigger) that is like war itself.

You choose to sit at the table, and then the trigger(war) decides how you leave the game.

I guess though, in the movie and in real life, the choice to sit at the table is not always yours.

Now to backtrack for a second, here's how the movie present russian roulette: Two 'players' pass a gun with one bullet in the chamber back and forth until one of them dies, while people bet on who dies first. yes, it's a spectator sport.

I'm starting to think that the real parallel between russian roulette and war is:

1. they're both just games that see who will die first

2. Your survival is based completely on someone else's death

3. There is nothing aside from luck that lets you live.

5. Even the winner loses (maybe his sole, sanity, etc).

4. The only real winners are those who are betting on the game.

Okay, now I simply must see this movie. It's been on my to do list for years. Judging by your post and comments, it must have had an effect on you.