Star Words: Episode III, Part 25

[matril]

The sequence that follows Palpatine's command to "execute order 66" is an astonishing, heartbreaking showcase of cinematic storytelling. We see unwitting Jedi betrayed by their clonetroopers one by one; we see Yoda's anguish as he senses it; we watch how he and Obi-Wan are able to narrowly escape their own deaths. The dialogue is minimal and efficient, allowing most of the emotion and exposition to be conveyed with nonverbal cues such as the sweepingly mournful score. The unspeakable horror of Anakin's slaughter of the younglings is alluded to rather than needing to be explicitly shown, and that horror we feel is granted the sympathetic grief of Padmé's weeping.

But there is one brief exchange of lines that strikes me as significant, though quite simple on the surface. Bail Organa has come to the Jedi Temple to investigate the commotion. He is brusquely informed of a "rebellion" that has been effectively managed, and when he tries to look closer, his entry is barred.

"I'm sorry, sir. It's time for you to leave." "And so it is."

In the next instant, Bail witnesses the heartless murder of a child barely past youngling age. Whatever his initial feelings about the Jedi's supposed revolt, this moment solidifies for him which side he is on. He spends the remainder of the film protecting what Jedi are left, and the remainder of his life striving to regain the freedoms that Palpatine and Empire have taken away.

And it's all symbolized in that quick little exchange. It's time for him to leave. How somberly, definitively, he answers that statement. A pause, a deep breath, and so it is. Any residual loyalty he might have had for the Senate and the Chancellor is gone. He sees who the real enemy is, and he knows which side he must stand on.

We always knew Leia's adoptive father was a brave and principled man, willing to live and die for the cause of freedom and peace. It was truly a treat to see that man portrayed in the prequels, particularly in the second half of this film. Bail has to know that opposing the Republic/Empire, with its tremendous army of clonetroopers, is a fight he has little chance of surviving. But he doesn't hesitate. The next time we see him, he's using every resource to seek out and rescue the surviving Jedi.

Now, I love, love, love Anakin, and I love to examine the many reasons that in the moment of crisis, he makes the wrong choice. But I also love characters who, at the moment of crisis, do not hesitate to do the right thing. I love Bail.

Next, portentous words from Padmé...

Comments

[krpalmer]

Bail Organa's role in this "dawn of Rebellion" subplot does impress me too, although there are times, aware of the not-included scenes meant to be earlier in the movie, that I try to make up the personal theory (I suppose some would proclaim it "headcanon") that he goes to the Jedi Temple because Padme called him on seeing the fire. Given he doesn't seem to contact her after, though, it feels the sort of thing that needs finessing to stand the objections of others.