During the final moments of William Faulkner’s short story Two Soldiers, it is easy to envision the young boy, 8 years and 10 months old, defiantly and passionately stand up to army men and high-ranking army officers demanding to see his newly enlisted older brother Pete. The young boy’s obstinate behavior is not surprising as it is consistent throughout his narration of the story. Aaron Schneider’s short film version of the Two Soldiers is consistent with the short story up until these final moments within the army’s office and the ride returning the young boy back to his home. From the beginning of each telling of the story, it is apparent this strong-willed boy feels strongly about his relationship with his older brother but it is at
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When his determination to see his brother finally pays off, we learn that either of the brother’s tough-mindedness does not change despite the circumstances. For example, when in the story the young brother explains, “He come in and there he was, looking at me like he hadn't never left home” (Faulkner). This remark by the narrator is telling that there wasn’t an expectation at home to be greeted warmly by his brother. Consequently, both the story and movie follows with the older brother shouting, “What in durnation are you doing here?" (Faulkner). Most would anticipate that the older brother would express surprise and would be touched by his brother’s long journey and spirited determination to see him, instead Pete immediately scolds him upon sight that he should be home taking care of their mother and their farm. It is apparent from this initial exchange that the two brothers’ willingness to express a sense of duty is stronger than their need to express affection for each other. Though both the movie and the short story both have the young boy explaining the reason he is there is because, “It hurts my heart,” the movie more effectively conveys the character’s feeling of heartache as the boy’s face softens directly after uttering these words and there is a silent pause as both brothers digest the …show more content…
The final scene of both the short film and story, during his car ride back home, allows the young boy to fully express his sense of loss and heartache by allowing the character to cry. Within the story the author simply has the character state, “and all of a sudden I begun to cry. I never knowed I was fixing to, and I couldn't stop it” (Faulkner). In stark contrast, the director invokes a much stronger emotional connection between the viewer and the young boy with his body language. In the short film, Two Soldiers, the viewer sees the thoughtfulness within the younger brother’s face as he watches out of the window of the car and then the slow overwhelming sense of pain which begins to form upon the boy’s face. The viewer clearly sees how he fights his emotions at first, becomes overwhelmed and then gives into it
When his determination to see his brother finally pays off, we learn that either of the brother’s tough-mindedness does not change despite the circumstances. For example, when in the story the young brother explains, “He come in and there he was, looking at me like he hadn't never left home” (Faulkner). This remark by the narrator is telling that there wasn’t an expectation at home to be greeted warmly by his brother. Consequently, both the story and movie follows with the older brother shouting, “What in durnation are you doing here?" (Faulkner). Most would anticipate that the older brother would express surprise and would be touched by his brother’s long journey and spirited determination to see him, instead Pete immediately scolds him upon sight that he should be home taking care of their mother and their farm. It is apparent from this initial exchange that the two brothers’ willingness to express a sense of duty is stronger than their need to express affection for each other. Though both the movie and the short story both have the young boy explaining the reason he is there is because, “It hurts my heart,” the movie more effectively conveys the character’s feeling of heartache as the boy’s face softens directly after uttering these words and there is a silent pause as both brothers digest the …show more content…
The final scene of both the short film and story, during his car ride back home, allows the young boy to fully express his sense of loss and heartache by allowing the character to cry. Within the story the author simply has the character state, “and all of a sudden I begun to cry. I never knowed I was fixing to, and I couldn't stop it” (Faulkner). In stark contrast, the director invokes a much stronger emotional connection between the viewer and the young boy with his body language. In the short film, Two Soldiers, the viewer sees the thoughtfulness within the younger brother’s face as he watches out of the window of the car and then the slow overwhelming sense of pain which begins to form upon the boy’s face. The viewer clearly sees how he fights his emotions at first, becomes overwhelmed and then gives into it