The Hill (1965)

 Sidney Lumet's "The Hill"


There aren't a whole lot of films that make me viscerally angry. Sidney Lumet's 1965 film "The Hill" is one of the rare exceptions. My anger doesn't stem from the quality of the film. Rather, the film is incredibly effective at eliciting this response out of me. It story revolving around a military prison and the obvious injustice and abuse that goes on there is enough to boil anyone's blood.

The great Sean Connery plays Joe Roberts, a former squadron sergeant major from the Royal Tank Regiment who is sent to a British Army glasshouse in the Libyan desert after assaulting his commanding officer. The cruel and oppressive treatment of the prisoners eventually leads to a death by negligence, leading Joe to become defiant of his abusive staff sergeants. The dissent grows, leading to more crackdowns and hysteria.

Beyond the obvious plot points that are bound to entice the sympathies of its audience, the film somehow manages to make us feel right in the middle of this mayhem. Lumet often uses very 'on-the-loose' techniques, like handheld cameras in confining spaces, extreme realist close-ups, and point of view shots. He puts us right into the tactile physical reality of the film, allowing us to experience the heat, fatigue, and confinement of our characters.

The plot, along with Lumet's ability to place us right in the action, had my attention and my engagement throughout the entirety of the film. It's brutal, stark, and downright contemptuous. The lack of inherent justice, the unethical corruption afoot, and the downright absurdity of command itself are all the driving force for the film's thematic point - which I found utterly compelling. 



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