The Pacifist | Award Winning Short Film | Oxford | WW2

[00:00:39]to waste another generation.

[00:00:42]That's what they're asking. to take you and your family, sedate you in patriotism, and inter you in the Belgian mud.

[00:00:51]The young trumpeter will lose his fingers, the rugby player, his legs, the intellectual, his mind. My mind, it will not withstand this war. My name is John Fool James, and I want to be an actor.

[00:01:08]I'm an Oxford, though that too is more of a curse. I started reading English, but everything we read seemed to say the same thing. So, I changed to geography.

[00:01:17]I need to become good with maps.

[00:01:20]Topographer, maybe you'll help me at my trial. They'll give me a comfortable office job studying terrain well behind the front line. I can be very persuasive.

[00:01:31]I'm a conscientious objector, you see, or a country, as everyone here at college likes to call me. And I don't blame them. For if I knew that in a matter of weeks I'd be drafted and sent to France only to die in a ditch, I too would resent that John Fool James who has appealed his draft. And that John Fool James whose court trial is scheduled for months after the spring draft date. Meaning that that filthy cotchy fool James may finish his degree and never set foot on foreign soil. But my I won't find is simple. I'm a pacifist.

[00:02:06]Plus the uniform's ghastly.

[00:02:09]>> Hot on the press. [clears throat] >> I know that at all times draws the strangest of consequence from the remotest cause. But for every evil, every sacrilege, crime and wrong, oppression and the ax's edge, indifference, exploitation, you and you and you must all be punished.

[00:02:40]So must you, Elliot.

[00:02:45]How are you, John?

[00:02:46]>> How am I?

[00:02:48]>> How am I indeed? Our rehearsals >> bearable director as a tit keep saying I'm too stoic. How can the man who killed Julius Caesar be too [ __ ] stoic? Tit.

[00:02:59]>> And what do we think about this rumor?

[00:03:01]What rumor?

[00:03:01]>> It could be true.

[00:03:02]>> What's the rumor?

[00:03:03]>> That he doesn't Hitler doesn't want to bomb Oxford as much because well he likes it basically. He thinks it's a hub of Anglo-Saxon supremacy. He loves its colonialism and its violent architecture. Is that true?

[00:03:20]>> Well, we don't know if it's true, I hope. It's a rumor. That's not entirely impossible. I mean, Oxford's dedicated a lot of bad men. You know what Hitler thinks of Cesar Roads?

[00:03:29]>> No.

[00:03:30]>> The only English man who understood Anglo-Saxon ideals apparently.

[00:03:33]>> And what are these ideals?

[00:03:35]>> Well, you can't look like me.

[00:03:39]Other than that's what's literature, empire, profound phallic insecurity.

[00:03:47]They say it was queer, too. Who wrote >> Jesus there's a nice warm spot in hell for him.

[00:03:53]>> Hell maybe this was his hell. Maybe this is some other planet's hell.

[00:04:00]>> Feel like that statement isn't as profound as you'd like it to be. John, >> just a thought, Yalab. I know you don't get many of those.

[00:04:07]>> I get plenty of thoughts. Thank you very much. Too many, actually. And this?

[00:04:12]Well, this would be a pathetic hell, wouldn't it? Hell has to be hellish all over. You can't have people living blissfully in hell. You can't have pockets of paradise in hell.

[00:04:20]>> Pockets of paradise. Where are these coveted pockets?

[00:04:23]>> You know, Amazonian tribes people, it's all nature and kinship, you know. Or or Martin's brother. He has what? Three girlfriends and five.

[00:04:30]>> Yeah. Martin's brothers are young.

[00:04:31]>> Oh, the monarchy. They have everything done for them, don't they? They've got pure cushioned contentment.

[00:04:37]>> Contentment is not paradise. Yep. It's a negation of suffering. and the monarchy.

[00:04:41]King George has one divinely ordained job to speak to speak on behalf of the nation and he can't even do that without sounding like [laughter] the the the paradise that is. No, it's a drag sometimes. I wish there wasn't.

[00:04:53]>> Bloody morose, John, >> isn't it? Isn't it? We come to Oxford goddamn university and what do we get? A bunch of senior Burks because all the young tutors are too busy getting shot by the [ __ ] Germans. Now, I've been set the same essay question three weeks.

[00:05:06]>> Are there worse problems in your goddamn essays, John? Yes, there are worse problems than my goddamn essays. And that's the [ __ ] point. Yellop. We're being asked to slaughter our goddamn souls, to valorize death with this petty, feudal nation, to give up our HOW CAN YOU HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT, JOHN?

[00:05:21]Hearn's brother is dead.

[00:05:26]We're both getting the draft soon. And you're the one sitting there with your [ __ ] socialist spiel. You're the one you who says he won't fight. You're sitting there speaking like some radical commie. And you'll do nothing to fight the fascists. It's absurd.

[00:05:36]>> What's absurd? Yalop is being asked to.

[00:05:38]No, not even asked. Demanded to kill our souls to murder and sacrifice our principles in the name of what? What are we defending? Have you even [ __ ] thought about that? ROYAL [ __ ] BRITANNIA, THE LORDS AND SER OF OUR >> FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. FOR GOD'S SAKE, JOHN, >> what freedom? Freedom is freedom of conscience. We're >> Stop pretentious [ __ ] For God's sake, John, this is about Europe's BLOODY SANITY.

[00:06:00]>> SANITY. SANITY. WHAT? care about any of this intellectual freedom rights.

[00:06:07]>> Of course I care.

[00:06:08]>> WHY DON'T YOU [ __ ] FIGHT FOR IT THEN?

[00:06:13]That's what we are fighting for.

[00:06:16]That's what our duty is.

[00:06:19]You bang on and on about principles.

[00:06:21]What are your bloody principles?

[00:06:27]Conscience.

[00:06:29]That's my principle.

[00:06:31]We're the only country in Europe to give us consis.

[00:06:37]The only country.

[00:06:40]I will take that chance.

[00:06:53]It must be by his death.

[00:06:57]And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general, he would be crowned. How that might change his nature, there's the question.

[00:07:11]It is the bright day that brings forth the adabet craves wary walking. Crown him that. And then I grant we put a sting in him that at his will he may do danger with the abuse of greatness is when it disjoints remorse from power.

[00:07:31]>> Right, that's it. We're done for the day. Full James. Full James.

[00:07:39]Are you sure he's out?

[00:07:44]Got a little gift for you then?

[00:07:45]>> Yeah, he likes it.

[00:07:47]>> Yeah.

[00:08:24]Told you to knock.

[00:08:26]>> You told me lots of things. Old boy.

[00:08:29]Still got the gersin. Got some dough coming in tomorrow.

[00:08:32]>> Take it. I don't want the money either.

[00:08:36]>> You sure?

[00:08:37]>> In the drawer.

[00:08:40]Cheers.

[00:08:46]>> You like this? E.

[00:09:05]It's all right.

[00:09:08]Whatever was said, you know, you know, I don't think those things about you.

[00:09:16]What's wrong?

[00:09:18]>> What with the world or what is it?

[00:09:22]>> You're not yourself, John. And this isn't about the argument. I mean, you're not a rifle club. You You're screaming class.

[00:09:29]>> If I wanted a lecture, and I'd go to my lectures.

[00:09:31]>> Well, why why don't you go to your lectures anymore, John? You should be there. You should be there while you can be there. John, we're going to be called up soon, mate.

[00:09:41]Me, yellow, those public school pricks.

[00:09:43]All of us will be out there in the mud.

[00:09:45]I know what you think of the war, John.

[00:09:47]And I I've listened to you and maybe maybe I agree with you on some points, but we're going to be call up, mate.

[00:09:56]You, too.

[00:09:58]How many times? You know I'm not going out there. I'm not going out there.

[00:10:01]>> You're going to lose, John.

[00:10:02]>> You're going to lose your case.

[00:10:08]>> I'm not messing you about. Martin's dad works for the MOD. And he he says less than 5% of applicants get complete exemption.

[00:10:16]Only half get non-combatant jobs and just as many get thrown out altogether.

[00:10:21]I mean, look at you, John.

[00:10:24]You're fit. You're healthy. You're content. For God's sake, they're going to make you fright, John.

[00:10:32]Really? Fight.

[00:10:36]This isn't going to work. Work. This isn't going to work. You don't believe me, do you? You just can't. You can't with your subservient heads. You and Yell. You just can't bring yourself to Some people are real [ __ ] heartfelt principles.

[00:10:50]GET OUT. LOOK AT ME.

[00:10:54]It doesn't matter whether I believe you or not.

[00:10:59]What matters is what's going to happen.

[00:11:02]What's really going to happen or what's going to happen is this.

[00:11:10]It's very likely you lose your case.

[00:11:15]No matter how much you say or how much you know, please don't believe the [ __ ] and the violence, the sinkings, dive bombings. No, this isn't ending soon, John.

[00:11:27]This isn't ending soon at all.

[00:11:31]I'm sorry, John.

[00:11:34]It's just not going to go how you think, how you want it to.

[00:11:46]Martin told you this.

[00:11:51]I didn't even I simply convert the deepest conviction of my being. I simply confr Stone yesterday.

[00:13:31]Stone walls do not prison.

[00:13:46]Stone walls do not open. [ __ ] Ming rour and den we put the spirit must feel as it needs to feel and greatness is when it destroys from power.

[00:14:14][cough] But that Shakespareian man [panting] in a Belgian ditch.

[00:14:24]You are not free when you're dead in a Belgian.

[00:14:32]As I put chance here after shall think me to put an anticession on. As I hereafter think I have to do I'm going to do it.

[00:15:46]It must be done.

[00:16:10]We all know you're [laughter] What do you want for James?

[00:16:33]>> I can't sleep.

[00:16:35]>> Try closing your eyes.

[00:16:40]>> Join us.

[00:19:01]John, >> did you read my poem?

[00:19:08]>> Yes.

[00:19:09]>> And >> beautiful. Did you read my poem about the painting?

[00:19:12]>> Your phrases.

[00:19:13]>> My phrases.

[00:19:14]>> Yes.

[00:19:15]>> And >> like some bastard to Cassandra to Boratelli.

[00:19:18]>> Okay.

[00:19:19]>> How do you feel?

[00:19:21]>> Ill.

[00:19:22]>> Why don't you tell someone? Tell them what >> do you want to find God?

[00:19:26]>> Yes.

[00:19:27]>> Then you must deny him.

[00:19:28]>> How >> do you want to kiss me?

[00:19:30]>> Yes.

[00:19:32]>> Do you want to?

[00:19:44]I want you to believe that what I do today I do because I must.

[00:19:50]But I know what is going to happen cannot separate us.

[00:19:56]I know that physically we shall be apart. But I shall always feel you there somewhere. Though you may not understand any more than I do why I am going to do this thing, you will feel for me something of what I do for you.

[00:20:11]This isn't what I meant to say. I don't know what to say or what to do. What I am going to do, I have felt coming all this term and most of last.

[00:20:22]But I never really believed, even when I saw the cartridges at home, even until last night, and not until I woke this morning, that I should ever do something so utterly foolish.

[00:20:37]>> Everything all right, Mr. Phil James?

[00:20:39]>> Could you post these for me, please, sir?

[00:20:41]>> Of course. Oral and based grammar school, >> an old school friend. Right. You are sir as much as the next bloody war can argue about tobacco prices as well. Now the church has a strong and he's got people around him and his decency so much is he rather commun the [ __ ] third right >> like some of us indeed were you last night John >> it's too early for that Charles >> what's the problem this morning Charles >> your friend kept us up last night >> what were you playing your shoddy music again >> call it shoddy actually a mating call shame you lot can't seem to get talking Morgan took back to John last night shame he's such a pansy you are Sorry, Muffet.

[00:21:31]>> Oh, [ __ ] off. Y God knows your [ __ ] out.

[00:21:33]>> Not this morning.

[00:21:34]>> Please >> come chaps.

[00:21:37]>> He's got his reasons. Muffet.

[00:21:39]>> Reasons. Reasons? What reasons are there for not fighting for your own bloody nation? Standing up for Britain.

[00:21:44]Reasons. Fighting an evil [ __ ] dictator here. And all conscience can think of as not getting his nails dirty.

[00:21:49]Neither can stand up for himself.

[00:21:51]>> Shut up, Muffet. He's heard it all before. He needs to bloody heed it.

[00:21:54]Perhaps had he been listening, he wouldn't be such a coward now, would he?

[00:21:57]Such a chicken. doesn't want to get mud on this fancy tire.

[00:22:00]>> I'm not a queeny in the army anyway.

[00:22:02]>> You know nothing of England, of Europe, of war, of weaponry. You know nothing of people, of what it means to be human.

[00:22:11]You know nothing of atoms, of women or of men. There is no war. There is no country, no King Arthur to be proud of.

[00:22:20]There is only the spirit. And the spirit must feel as it needs to feel, do as it needs to do. And to be human is to suffer. And war is suffering. But that is not all. So I will keep my nails clean. I will not bleed if I do not need to bleed. I will not lick the boots of this disgusting feudal nation. I will not submit to these jealous gods. There is nothing here for me. Nothing in Oxford. Nothing in France. I won't have my rotting body fertilize France's soil.

[00:22:54]And time the destroyer can be time the preserver. And I will be the latter. I will let her destroy me. But I will not submit to these jealous gods.

[00:23:09]Your music did keep me up last night.

[00:23:14]Not all of it was shocking.

[00:23:25]Hostilities have been going on since early this morning along the frontiers between Germany and Poland. There is no news about the progress of either side.

[00:23:36]>> Someone should make some real war news.

[00:23:39]>> Someone should write their essay. I'm coming.

[00:23:43]>> Have we still got my cartridges in the drawer? Coming.

[00:23:50]See you at dinner.

[00:23:57]Fine.

[00:24:01]John