Saints and Soldiers

I Got the dvd of this yesterday and watched it last night it wasn't what I expected...

The film is based on actual WWII events, the film tells the story of five of Allied soldiers ( four americans and a british pilot ) trapped behind enemy lines with information that could save thousands of allied lives. they try to make their way back to their own lines. saints and Soldiers is set  In mid-December 1944, as Hitler's Army makes it's way through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium, ithe starting of a offensive that will come to be known as the Battle of the Bulge. The German soldiers open fire on the unarmed prisoners,  now known as the Malmedy Massacre. 

What struck me through the film was the link in lives and events that drew friendship and hatred together... hiding in a farm two german soldiers come to search one is killed as he tried to attack the women harbouring the Allied soldiers. the other ran into the woods to be caught by one of the others in the band and brought back to the farm...

this is where for me the story really had a human touch deeper than anything we think possible... one of the americans recognises a friend from before the war when he was a missionary they talk and pray.. while the rest of the group are suspicious and want to killed the german... during the night the german is let to escape after giving up valuable details. 

Suspicion grows and threatens to brake the group they continue to make there way through the forest and come across germans again and a fire fight ensures leaving one badly injured when it seems like all is lost it is this german who was allowed to escape that provides a way out to get to the allied lines... 

there is a constant tension between the medic and one of the soldiers nicknamed "Deacon" a christian comments made about what was so interest in the book he was reading....

at the end of the film all but the medic and the british pilot die but something striking happens the medic who was the strongest in the hatred becomes the one who aides the now captured german solider.... and takes the bible from deacon....

Forgiveness, friendship hatred all mix in this film.....

And something much deeper the grace of God actively present in the worst places of human life.