Paradise Road Essay

mmative: Extended Response:
Use the film and your wider knowledge to critically assess the following statement:
‘Who we are is truly tested and proven when we encounter conflict.’

Bruce Beresford’s film, Paradise Road, is based on the true historical events that followed the attack of the Vyner Brooke, where the hardships of the circumstances tested the characters in ways that both support and challenge the statement of ‘who we are is truly tested and proven when we encounter conflict’. Conflict is defined as “a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one”, and can be perceived in many ways. How someone perceives conflict is beyond their control, as it may be entirely influenced by others and their actions, their perception

Different characters encounter different difficulties; a prisoner’s problems will not entirely reflect a prison officer’s problem. Therefore, the way in which they respond to these difficulties will no only be based on their own character, but the rights and power that they are given. The Australian military personnel somewhat belittle the Japanese’s position in the war, and can be seen underestimating them in the opening shots of the film, just before the events of the attack of Vyner Brooke and the nurse’s imprisonment. At this point, despite World War 2 being well underway, the scene of the celebration at the Cricket Club in Singapore is shown as carefree and happy. This shows that while the wider conflict going on at the time is the matter of war, due to them not being directly involved, those that are at the Cricket Club are rather content where they are and are able to continue with their lives as if nothing significant is happening. Upon a bomb exploding right outside the club, representing the Japanese having advanced beyond defensive lines, they immediately panic as never would they have imagined it occurring, being previous so assured in their military forces, assured to the point of arrogance. The reaction to this conflict shows that those being attacked are used to having the upper hand, and

At first the woman are merely talking to one another, and keep in their own social levels. However, as time passes, the group’s collective response to the hardships allow them to bond, especially upon acknowledging that despite what they had previously thought of one another, the need to survive has far greater weight than the barriers of social segregation. Thus, relationships between the women develop and together, they assemble a vocal choir as somewhat of a form of therapy, using music to demonstrate the perseverance, solidarity, and creativity, that makes the possibility of coping with the atrocities of the camp significantly