US Comparison- Miracle at St. Anna (Spike Lee) and Inglorious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)

US Comparison- Miracle at St. Anna (Spike Lee) and Inglorious Basterds

Both films are set in World War 2. This is clear as both films involve events that took place in World War 2 and details that were involved and associated with World War 2. Miracle at St. Anna is more effective in uncovering a side of World War 2 that the audience might not necessarily know about. Spike Lee gives light on Italy’s involvement in the war and how America used black people in their army. One reason why Spike Lee is effective in showing a new side to World War 2 is that he shows the abuse of black people in the American army. It is typical of Spike Lee to highlight issues involving racism, and it is certainly clear in Miracle of St. Anna. Within the film we can see how the group of black people in the army are treated. It’s clear that they were dragged into joining the army, we can see this from the overweight appearance of Sam. Furthermore, it is clear that a large majority of the group aren’t mentally prepared for the war, unlike a typically trained soldier. This is clear evidence that they were forced into fighting the war. It is clear that the black American soldiers are not wanted or accepted. The sergeant of the group treated them as if they were slaves, which they essentially were as they were forced into the army.

In comparison, Inglorious Basterds didn’t showcase a misunderstood issues as Miracle at St. Anna, but Tarantino did give a different side of the Germans against the Jews. Tarantino creates a Nazi killing business. Stepping away from history books about Jewish people being murdered by the Nazi’s, Tarantino gives the Jewish people strength and the ability to fight against the Germans. It gives the feel that Tarantino uses this film to change the perspective on the horrible history of the attempt of the elimination of the Jews. One way in which he does this is through the use of the character “The Bear Jew”. The Bear Jew is a feared Jewish man, whos name has been heard amongst the Nazi’s. This fact shows, that Tarantino liberated the Jews in this film. Making them feared steps away from what the audience would of typically learnt about World War 2.

Both directors use an element of gore. Tarantino’s use of gore is more exaggerated and used more often, on the other hand, Spike Lee uses more realistic gore. This similarity in the use of gore can be because of the war element in both films, this is turn creates different outlooks of war in the two films. In Inglorious Basterds, Spike's use of gore gives a more historic and real view on the event of World War 2, this is effective in highlighting a new side of the war (the events in Italy) effectively and directing the audiences focus on the historical context rather than entertaining the audience with gore. On the other hand, Tarantino's use of gore is more used in a thriller type way to entice the audience, this takes away from the severity of the topic of war. Spike Lee’s film has a more realistic historic side to it, therefore mixing the element of violence and showing it up close can really immerse the audience and feel empathy towards the historic event. Tarantino’s use of violence can almost be seen as a satisfaction for the audience. The beginning of the film is extremely haunting and shows how the Jews were treated, watching the Germans being murdered by the Jews is a payback for the treatment of the Jews.