Men at war played by Benedict Cumberbatch
(Please beware “The Yellow Birds: A Novel” spoilers!)
“Afghanistan or Iraq?” One could say SHERLOCK actor Benedict Cumberbatch is experienced in life threatening situations. However he is only familiar with the commonly known “bravery of a soldier” on screen. In the past decade Benedict has played men at wartime: Lt Jimmy Langley (“Dunkirk” 2004), Major Jamie Steward (“War Horse” 2011), Christopher Tietjens (“Parade’s End” 2012) and most recently the PTSD sufferer Wallace (“Little Favour” 2013). Each of whom were unlike any other underneath their uniforms, very different individuals living at different times. What they had in common though was their survival, pride and bravery in combat.
“The Yellow Birds” written by Kevin Powers tells the fictional but based on real life events story of U.S. Privates John Bartle and Daniel Murphy at war in Iraq 2004. Powers’ focus is on their friendship by jumping back and forth in the narrative. Cumberbatch’s character, Sergeant Sterling, completes the trio and has a significant influence on Bartle. Unluckily this powerful and well written novel is none of survival. It is Powers’ aim to answer the reader’s question what it is like over there. “God, that fucking question” says Sterling.
“He looked a lot like Sterling in some ways, the blond hair and blue eyes. But it was as if Murph was the ordinary version. Where Sterling was tall and trimly muscled, Murph was not. He wasn’t fat, it was just that he seemed almost incorrectly short and squat by comparison. Whereas Sterling’s jawline could have been transferred directly from a geometry textbook, Murph’s features were nearly imperceptibly askew. Whereas Murph’s mouth feel comfortably into a smile, Sterling’s did not.” (Bartle, page 35)
During my own reading of the book I had great difficulties to sympathy, to understand Sterling’s behaviour. Maybe it truly only is due to the circumstances at war. Earlier this year Cumberbatch stated at OZ Comic Con his favourite of negative emotions to explore within a character is power. Powers’ Sergeant definitely lives up to his powerful position, both verbally and physically. Personally I tried my best to find something likeable but Sterling simply isn’t meant to be likeable. As long as he’s in charge and leading the battle, everything is OK. He enjoys being on top of his game showing off his dominance, self-sacrifice, rage, focus and bravery. Toward the end of the novel I felt Bartle owns not few but various characteristics of the Sergeant as the two boys decide what should happen to the brutally murdered Murphy. Both men at war decided to live with a lie of war for the rest of their lives.
This should be enough to go on with if you haven’t read the book yet.
If you’re interested, buy your own copy for £12.50 here.
There is a, mind if I say, major spoiler in the upcoming paragraph!
I suppose there are many interpretations to why Sterling gives up on his responsibilities and commits suicide, the only decision he ever made only for himself. Private Bartle has to take the responsibility of a broken promise and its aftermaths on his own. “We only pay attention to the rare things, and death was not rare” tells the 21-year-old in the beginning and by the end Cumberbatch’s Sterling will be just a number and a name on a box with a flag on it.
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