Prelude to War

Directed and Produced by Frank Capra
Narrated by Walter Huston
Released 1942
Running Time 53 minutes
Distributed by War Activities Committee of the Motion Pictures Industry

After the closing of the film's events with the purpose of propaganda, I was left with feelings of confusion, justice, and the cliffhanger of continued thinking. Prelude to War was a film to give evidence and suggestions on the reasoning behind the war against Germany, Japan, and Italy. There was a clear distinction between the world in those countries which more militant and rigid to the free democratic world of the U.S. Images of children in the U.S. shown how children were cultured and played in the outdoors versus the children of the opposing state was trained as soldiers for the war and babies were raised by the state without parents. There were images of fighter planes, bombs, the marching military groups, dead bodies, and completely destroyed towns.

The main focus was the leaders in full force for the victories of their countries. I understood the quests of one nation to succeed in the world. I value the democracy given for the people of the U.S. in fact showing how equality is the theme for many religious books from the bible, Koran, and etc. But at the same time, I only know the bible and brief teachings from a world religions class.

As a viewer, I was bombarded by the headlines and bold statements about the enemy. In my personal note, I am fixated on a balanced scale or remain neutral. Again, I'm desensitized by the way my life is contained in a bubble of comfort and sometimes on a small scale based on the media. I was not part of the war although I am a product of wars. I cannot understand how someone can lose their whole family tree in mere minutes or force to join a military force or coerced into one religion of state. Do we have choices? Did they have choices? The U.S. in the New World was founded on the freedom of man's rights. The gratitude of a free life is appreciated. At the same time, I'm a product of knowing others from other cultures especially in Germany, Italy, and Japan. My friends live or were raised by parents from these countries. In order to be swayed to one side, I cannot be one-sided due to the fact of the realism of my friends' family history. I loved the contents of the film which gives imagery background of the wars. But I need to research on the considered enemy side.

I found the production for wars provided economic stability but the money poured into the wars is substantial. Regardless whether the world wishes for peace, wars must be fought and defended in order to gain peace. The reality we face is the balance between the two - war and peace. I feel that I have feelings of both - fight what is ours and fight what will be taken. Every nation based on one formula deserves existence but what expense - the people, race, religion, or basic living. But once there is harm and no rights are given, humanity must be advocated for justice of all people to live in a well-being, nourishing environment with prosperity. Unfortunately, the world does not operate that common ground.