Three+Kings

1. What is the plot (what does the character want)? In the film as the title suggest there are three main character Troy Barlow, Chief Elgin, and Archie Gates who are all members of the US army. In the film the Iraq war has officially ended and U.S. troops were being shipped out of Iraq. Right before leaving the three men discovers a large stash of gold bars hidden somewhere in Iraq close to his base. The plot of this film is all three men want to steal the gold and keep it to spend when they is back in the U.S.

2. What is the theme (what does the character need)? To steal this gold, the tree men have to do it at the expense of a large Iraqi village. In order to save the innocent Iraqis and get them so safety across the Iraq boarder they have to give up the gold that they stole and go to prison for going AWOL. The theme of the movie is to help other people, even if it is at your own expense. 

3.Choose a scene that best exemplifies the theme. Identify and explain how 10 elements within the scene (reference mise-en-scene, editing, sound, cinematography, lighting) create meaning in reference to that theme. The scene I chose to exemplify the theme of the movie is the very last scene in the movie where the three men are helping the innocent Iraqi citizens get into Iran. At this point they have to choose between sticking to his selfish needs and keeping the gold he stole or sacrificing the gold and his freedom to help the Iraqis get into Iran. The first element that represents the theme of the movie is mise-en-scene of a golden brick. A close of the golden brick signifies the theme of the movie because it is what the men give up in order to save the Iraqi citizens. Another use of mise-en-scene that represents the theme of the movie is when the Iraqi refugees are behind a barbed wired fence. By showing how helpless they are without the American soldiers, it represented that only the three men were the ones who are able to save them. The next element used to exemplify the theme of the movie is editing. By having cuts of all three men nodding, it showed how they have all chosen the theme of the movie above the plot and are willing to give up their stolen gold to save the refugees.  Another use of editing to represent the theme is the quick cuts used throughout the scene. By having such quick cuts it shows the turmoil and confusion in the scene before the three men are able to clear up the misunderstanding and reveal their intentions. After the men have decided to give up their gold and save the refugees the cuts throughout the scene begin to slow down. Sound was also one of the elements that was used throughout the movie to exemplify the theme of the film. One way sound was used in a powerful way to represent the theme in this scene is by having cries a help from the Iraqi refugees throughout the whole scene in the background. By doing so the film is able to show how much the need the assistance of the American, forcing the three men to give up the gold to save them.