Birdy

The 1984 film Birdy, directed by Alan Parker, is a poignant and powerful exploration of the psychological trauma inflicted by war on two young men. The movie is based on a novel of the same name by William Wharton, and it delves into the complex themes of identity, friendship, and the effects of violence on the human psyche. The story revolves around two childhood friends, Al (Matthew Modine) and Birdy (Nicolas Cage), who grew up together in a small town in New Jersey. Al is a practical and down-to-earth young man, while Birdy is a bird enthusiast who has always been fascinated by the beauty and freedom of birds. As they grow older, their lives take different paths, with Al pursuing a more traditional route, attending college and developing a career as a businessman. Birdy, on the other hand, enlists in the army and is sent to Vietnam, where he is severely traumatized by the horrors of war. Upon his return to the United States, Birdy is admitted to a mental hospital, where he is diagnosed with schizophrenia. His condition is exacerbated by his obsessive belief that he is a bird, and that he has been sent to the hospital from the sky. Al visits Birdy at the mental hospital, where he discovers that his friend has lost all touch with reality. Birdy believes that he is a bird who has been injured and sent to the hospital, and that his human body is just a shell that he must break free from. Al is shocked and disheartened by Birdy's condition, and he tries to reach out to his friend, to no avail. As the story unfolds, Al learns more about Birdy's experiences in Vietnam, and the atrocities he witnessed and committed during the war. He comes to understand that Birdy's condition is a coping mechanism, a way for his friend to deal with the trauma and guilt he feels for surviving the war while many others did not. Al's visits to Birdy become more frequent, and he starts to see his friend's perspective, to understand why he believes he is a bird. He begins to identify with Birdy's pain and suffering, and he starts to question his own place in the world, his own sense of purpose and identity. Al realizes that he too has been affected by the war, that he too has lost touch with his own humanity. Through his interactions with Birdy, Al comes to appreciate the beauty and freedom of birds, just as Birdy always did. He learns to see the world from a different perspective, to appreciate the fragility and beauty of life. Al starts to question his own values and priorities, and he begins to see that there is more to life than just material possessions and social status. The movie takes a dramatic turn when Al's friend and his wife have their child. However, he starts to lose his grip on reality and believes he is a bird and is going to fly, so he cuts his finger to get away from the crowd of people. This is one of the moments that Birdy’s obsession is portrayed as a cry for help – a desperate attempt to escape the trauma and pain of war. Ultimately, Al comes to realize that he cannot save Birdy from his delusions, but he can be there for him, supporting and comforting him as he fights to regain his sanity. The movie ends with Al and Birdy sharing a moment of connection, a moment of understanding and empathy. Birdy starts to understand that Al is there for him, and that he is not alone in his pain and suffering. The final scene shows Al and Birdy sitting together on a bench, holding a bird's nest. Birdy is finally starting to come back to reality, and Al is there to support him every step of the way. The movie ends on a hopeful note, a sense that Birdy may finally be able to break free from his delusions and return to the world of the living.