The end
Am I right in thinking Warden is the only survivor of the main characters at the end, also was Nicholson shot?
And were the other prisoners released at the end I guess they were.
Yes, I also believe that Warden was the only survivor of the bridge demolition team - if he survived the journey back to the women's village. Both Joyce and Shears were shot, presumably fatally. Warden probably could have developed a severe infection from his gunshot wound and may not have had long to live, either.
As for Nicholson, it is my belief that he suffered some brain damage due to the nearness of the last mortar explosion we see. (Remember, this was a frequent injury incurred by American/coalition troops in the recent Iraq war. My wife's best friend's husband is still receiving treatment for just such an injury from several years ago.) No, I don't remember Nicholson suffering a gunshot wound.
He was able to summon a last bit of strength and resolve to attempt to detonate the demolition explosives and destroy the bridge. I see his fall on the detonator as his dying moment. Others may disagree.
... there has been technological advancement, but how little man himself has changed.
I don't remember Shears getting shot though was it just after they recognise each other, and what was Shears trying to do anyway, kill Nicholson or detonate the explosives or both?
shareShears is shot at least twice, going by the way he recoils while crossing the river. He intended to kill Nicholson and then detonate the explosive.
shareI completely disagree about Nicholson. He was so consumed by the perfection of the concept of British command that he was totally blinded, and that he let this blindness consume him to the point that he found himself totally transformed with the fact of British exceptionalism until it became apparent that he was completely delusional with the fact he was commiserating with the enemy.
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