Unlike movies aboutwar, post-war movies focus on the life that comes after service. Post-war movies often deal with themes of adjusting to civilian life, dealing with war injuries, and finding purpose in what soldiers have done. Many post-war movies explore how the survivors of war find peace with the state of the world and their actions. Here are some of the best movies about post-war life.
10The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)
First, on the list of best movies, we have the aptly namedThe Best Years of Our Lives. This movie from 1946 focuses on three World War II veterans who return from war and meet on the flight home. The film details how each man struggles to adapt to civilian life. One man lost both hands in the war and must learn to work with his hook replacements. Another man struggles with an addiction to alcohol after being weary and jaded from his actions while at war. The last man has to struggle with PTSD visions at night that hold him back from finding a better job to make a living. The movie does an excellent job of showcasing all the different struggles that come up in post-war life and how the war has a ripple effect on everyone’s relationships.
9Born On The Fourth Of July (1989)
Born on the Fourth of Julyis an anti-war biography based on the book of the same name. It was released in 1989 andstarred Tom Cruise, Kyra Sedgwick, and Raymond Barry. The film was directed by Oliver Stone and received eight different nominations at the Academy Awards. It tells the story of New York teenager Ron Kovic, who enlists in the marines during the Vietnam War. During his tour, he accidentally kills a fellow squad member and becomes permanently paralyzed during the battle. After returning home, the government turns a blind eye to his struggles, prompting him to become an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War.
It has high critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praise Tom Cruise’s performance and transformation from a wide-eyed teenager to a scruffy anti-war activist. Audiences loved the construction of the drama scenes and how ambitious the film was. Despite not being a documentary, it expertly captures the Vietnam experience in America.
8First Blood (1982)
First Blood, known as thestart of theRambofranchise, is about a returning Vietnam War veteran. The film was released in 1982 andstarred Sylvester Stalloneas John Rambo. It is based on the 1972 novel of the same name by David Morrell. Several studios attempted to adapt the book beforehand, but this Ted Kotcheff-directed version was the first to succeed. This film also marked the first release of a major Hollywood film in China. It held the record for the most number of movie tickets sold in China until 2018. The film follows John Rambo as he returns from war to learn that his friend has died from cancer due to his exposure to Agent Orange chemicals during the war. Rambo becomes a drifter, eventually getting arrested by a corrupt Sheriff. This prompts Rambo to flashback to his Vietnam days and takes out the Sherriff and deputies in a vicious manhunt.
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7The Marriage Of Maria Braun (1979)
InThe Marriage of Maria Braun, you get to see how a civilian named Maria adapts to life in post-war Germany after World War II. Maria was initially supposed to marry a soldier, but he became a prisoner after the war. She is forced to become the mistress of an industrialist while still holding love in her heart for the man she had only married for a half day and a whole night. The soldier Hermann eventually comes home, causing him to return to see Maria with the industrialist. After a violent confrontation, Maria kills Bill, the industrialist, and is tried in a military tribunal. The film is considered a classic and made it to theNew York Times' 1000 best movies ever made.
6Walking Tall (2004)
Walking Tallis a filmstarring Dwayne Johnson, released in 2004, that is a remake of a film of the same name from 1973. In the Dwayne Johnson version, the character is a discharged army soldier who returns home from service to find that his hometown is changed. The town has become corrupt with drugs, crime, and corruption, and Johnson’s character Chris Vaughn has to find out who his friends are as he tries to clean up the town. Chris has to adjust to his civilian life and try to refrain from solving problems in a military-style way like he is used to doing. This remake changed the main character from a retired wrestler to a US army soldier. By doing this, it captured the themes of the post-war feeling of a returning soldier that captured the spirit of the post-911 era in America.
5The Aftermath (2019)
InThe Aftermath,the setting is a British occupation zone during the post-war period of Germany after World War II. It is based on a book of the same name by novelist Rhidian Brook. The film was released in 2019 and starred Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jason Clarke. It highlights the struggle of Rachael Morgan to reunite with her husband in Hamburg after the city has been shattered and torn apart by war. The film is a solid period piece with some excellent performances and artistic cinematography. While the film was released to lukewarm reviews, it is a solid period work for people who are fans of the post-World War II period. Characters in the movie deliver dramatic and intense scenes, and a rich artistic vision provides plenty of poignant moments.
4The Secrets We Keep (2020)
The Secrets We Keepis a 2020 thriller film set in America right after World War II ended. It follows Maja Reid, a Romanian refugee played by Noomi Rapace. She and her husband have to adjust to post-war life. While arriving in the suburbs, she finds some people that she believes have committed war crimes and makes it her mission to get revenge against them. On release, it was positively reviewed by critics who praised its solid acting and compelling drama. The central conflict creates an atmosphere of paranoia with a big reveal that is elevated by the quality of the filmmaking on display. The film does not shy away from showing shocking scenes and features flashbacks of German soldiers abusing and killing women. Although the war has ended, the war never truly ends for its survivors.
3Flags Of Our Fathers (2006)
Flags of Our Fathersis a Clint Eastwood-directed film based on a book by the same name. In addition to directing, Clint Eastwood also produced and scored the movie as well. The movie details the experience of the marines who raised the flag in the iconic World War II photo during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The film portrays their war experiences in flashbacks while detailing how the soldiers struggle to adjust to their new civilian lives after the war has ended. There are struggles with alcoholism, and the soldiers cannot escape the unwanted fame due to the photograph. Unfortunately, not every soldier in the photo survived long enough to adjust to civilian life.
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2In The Valley Of Elah (2007)
The next film on the list,In the Valley of Elah, is a 2007 crime drama that deals with the experiences of a retired military police sergeant and his son, who has recently returned home from war. Unfortunately, the army sergeant, played by Tommy Lee Jones, tragically loses his son in the event that may have been foul play from his own platoon. Jones uses a detective’s help to figure out exactly what happened that night. The film was very positively received and deals with the darker sides of living post-war in the civilian world. It is a tense ride that delivers powerful dramatic scenes and relies heavily on its anti-war themes. Tommy Lee Jones delivers a powerful, even-handed performance with its compassion and pointed questions at American society.
1Land Of Mine (2015)
Land of Mineis a post-war drama film released in 2015. It was directed by Martin Zandvliet and starred Danish actor Roland Møller. The film describes an under-told story of post-World War II, where German soldiers would be used to defuse old mines from the war. Some 2,000 German soldiers were used to clear minefields, nearly half being killed or wounded while performing the duty. The soldiers are forced to clear the minefields with just their bare hands.
This film does an excellent job of honestly portraying Denmark’s biggest war crime after the war ended. It is shockingly violent when it needs to be and creates a nervous atmosphere where everything can explode at any moment. Critics praise the film’s examination of the effects of war on the human spirit and the subtle ways it leaves its mark on all of us. It is a great watch that is unafraid to be compassionate and shows the nature of why resentment happens and why it is crucial to have forgiveness.
