Religious Significance in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge: “Convicted Civility”

Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge portrays an artistic vision of “convicted civility” which retains significance in modern society of high technology. It was mostly regarded as a movie which places an emphasis mainly on patriotism and life respect though. However, the movie as an art deals with an important theme of “convicted civility” which illustrates how people with religion beliefs should interact with others in the real world. Desmond Doss, a U.S Army medic, is the protagonist of the movie who miraculously saves over seventy-five injured soldiers in the battle of Hacksaw Ridge, in Okinawa during the World War II. Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist, who has firm belief in the Christian faith decides to follow the word of God especially when he faces two crucial moments in his early life. When the World War II breaks out, Doss had a good reason to be exempt from being enlisted, but he voluntarily joins the Army as a medic and a conscientious cooperator. Trying to keep the Sabbath on Saturday and refusing to carry a gun, he experiences difficult times in the Army. However, Doss heroically rescues a large number of injured soldiers in battles demonstrating his “convicted civility.” “Convicted civility” can be an alternative value that modern society needs in the era of 4th Industrial Revolution