Mel Gibson delivers a cinematic masterpiece with Hacksaw Ridge (known as Thou Shalt Not Kill in some regions). This standout war film draws directly from the extraordinary true story of a soldier who served in World War II committed to one principle: never to kill.
Hacksaw Ridge breaks the mold of traditional war movies by chronicling Desmond Doss's journey—a devout conscientious objector who entered battle unarmed. Directed by Mel Gibson, the film recounts the real-life medic who saved 75 lives during the brutal Battle of Okinawa.
In 2016, Mel Gibson's powerful war drama hit theaters, earning Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. Gibson cast Andrew Garfield—fresh from The Amazing Spider-Man—as Desmond Doss, the faith-driven medic who insisted on serving his country without carrying a weapon.
Doss, born in 1919 in Virginia, embodied this resolve during the pivotal Battle of Okinawa. Official records credit him with saving 75 lives, though eyewitness accounts suggest even more. He repeatedly lowered wounded soldiers from sheer cliffs to safety, becoming the first conscientious objector to receive the prestigious Medal of Honor.
Read also: Three films to understand the trauma of war in cinema
Doss sustained serious injuries during his rescues—shrapnel to his legs and arm. Demobilized in 1946, he battled tuberculosis and spent years in recovery before passing away in 2006.
While rooted in fact, the movie takes creative liberties. Doss didn't meet his wife in a hospital, and the film's climactic operation wasn't his first battle, as reported by Ciné Série.
Thou Shalt Not Kill airs this Monday, November 8, in the evening on France 3.
To stay updated, subscribe to our newsletter.
