Watch The Brig

The Brig is a dramatic film released in 1964 and directed by Jon Erickson. The movie is based on the play of the same name, which was written by Kenneth Brown, a former marine who was himself confined in a Marine Corps jail in Japan during the Korean War. The Brig takes a profound look at the dehumanizing nature of prison life, chiseling out the rigidities of military discipline, and showing the effects of a lack of liberty, brutality, and mindless obedience.

Set in a Marine Corps jail in an unidentified country during the Korean War, the film tells the story of the harsh and oppressive prison conditions faced by the inmates. The story takes a quick dive into a vital part of the prison, as we learn that the prisoners are subjected to a strict code of conduct, with harsh punishments for anyone who disobeys. The people in charge are implacable and unforgiving, and the soldiers that are punished are seen as nothing more than objects to be broken.

The movie opens with a series of stock military shots that contrast the pristine and formidable edifices of US architecture with the squalor and sordidness of the prison's cells. A few prisoners are being led off the transport bus and taken inside the facility.

The film's protagonist is an innocent young man (Warren Finnerty), likely having committed some minor infringement of military code, who has been thrown into the prison, and it doesn't take long for him to encounter the brutality of his keepers, whether it be from the chain of command to the staff members, everybody is equally malicious.

Much of the film is spent depicting the long and grueling routines of the prisoners, who are forced to do pointless, repetitive work to keep themselves (and the guards) busy. The prisoners are made to suffer a never-ending series of humiliation and maltreatment, and it becomes clear that their physical abuse and intimidation is only a small part of the overall injustice. The inmates who have spent a longer time in the Brig become more and more brutalized, with some even losing their very sense of self, with no other way of coping.

What makes The Brig such a compelling and unique film is the way that it portrays the prison experience. The filmmaker masterfully employs a documentary-style approach that provides an unflinching view on the reality of military dominion. The movie's tone is one of stark realism, with raw, near-documentary footage that gives viewers an all-too-clear picture of precisely what goes on behind military walls. This unrelenting depiction presents viewers with the sense that the violence and injury inflicted upon inmates is unyielding, and without recourse.

The Brid is outstandingly acted, bringing the characters to life and allowing the viewer to feel the pain and dread that these soldiers have to endure. Jim Anderson, who plays the Lieutenant in charge of the prison, is especially excellent, giving a nuanced performance that is as terrifying as it is fascinating. His character is depicted as having given up on humanity and sanity, allowing himself to become a fully-fledged monster.

Henry Howard’s character of a guard is the only one whose countenance alters from the maniacal conventions, intermittently letting the viewer know that there is a piece of humanity left in him. The prisoner played by Finnerty is as innocuous and docile as they come, and his almost silent performance is one of the most impactful in the movie.

While many war films tend to focus on the valiant efforts of soldiers and the glory of fighting for one's country, The Brig takes an opposite approach, revealing the inhumane and devastating effects that arise when control is taken too far, and leaders become tyrants. It is an intimate and haunting view of the world of the prison cell and touches on the idea that a love of liberty can be extinguished only by at the hands of authoritarianism.

In conclusion, The Brig is an evocative and raw depiction of man's inhumanity to man, framed by a compelling and powerful narrative that lingers long after the credits have rolled. It is an unforgettable film, as well as an essential look at the dangers of militaristic power, giving us a glimpse into a world seldom explored in film before. The Brig is not an easy watch, but it is an essential one, opening our eyes to the horror of uniformity, limitedness, and the human cost of systemic oppression.