When we think of war movies, it usually conjures images of soldiers on the front lines bravely giving their lives for their country. However, there’s a lot more to warfare than that, and many of the best war movies ever made showcase the human side of conflict, the political context of violence, and everyday stories of resilience.

Whether it’s films focused on lesser-known conflicts or WWII movies released during still-active warfare, war cinema can often be just as powerful without actually depicting the violence and bloodshed that occurs. The images viewers’ minds can conjure are usually even more harrowing than what’s shown on screen, and it doesn’t require battle scenes to imagine the horrors of war.

The Pianist (2002)

From the Battle of the Bulge to the Normandy Landings, the Second World War was a conflict that included some of the most harrowing and well-known battles of all time. Although many of the victims of this war were not involved in any battles at all and merely had their everyday existences obliterated due to the ruthless and unforgiving effects of the Holocaust.

Polish director Roman Polanski powerfully depicted this in his Holocaust story The Pianist, which starred Adrien Brody as Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish musician who lost everything after Warsaw fell under Nazi occupation. By focusing on one man’s story of loss and trauma, The Pianist acted as a microcosm for Holocaust survivors and the plight of the Jewish people during WWII.

Grave Of The Fireflies (1988)

When it comes to battle, bloodshed, and war, the most innocent of all victims are always children. This was demonstrated in Grave of the Fireflies, a Studio Ghibli film that stood in stark contrast to the animation studio’s fantastical reputation to depict WWII with harsh realism as two Japanese orphaned children attempt to survive the final months of the Pacific War.

Despite being an animated film, Grave of the Fireflies did not shy away from the dark realities of warfare, and the children struggled to find enough resources to survive, and the youngest child eventually succumbed to starvation. Without any need to focus on gunfire, writer and director Isao Takahata captured the inhumane nature of war like nobody before him.

Quo Vadis, Aida? (2020)

Writer and director Jasmila Žbanić dramatized the harrowing circumstances surrounding the Srebrenica mᴀssacre during the Bosnian War in Quo Vadis, Aida? However, rather than showcase the murderous brutality of those killings, which saw 8,000 Bosnian men and boys killed in 1995, this conflict was explored through the United Nations translator Aida.

As a translator trying to balance protecting her family with the humanitarian requirements of her job, Quo Vadis, Aida? showcased the difficult decisions that must be made when it’s impossible to help everyone. Jasna Đuričić perfectly captured Aida’s plight and the difficulties of carrying out professional duties while countless citizens pleaded for safety inside the UN’s safe zone.

The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)

For those veterans involved in active warfare, life is never quite the same when they return to civilian life. This was the premise of The Best Years of Our Lives, which told the story of three United States servicemen readjusting to society in the aftermath of World War II.

One of the most fascinating aspects of The Best Years of Our Lives was its subtle exploration of class dynamics, as each veteran came from a different social background, which had a distinct impact on their post-war lives. As a film filled with great performances, the standout was Harold Russell, a genuine veteran who lost his hands during military service.

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

New Zealand satirist Taika Waiтιтi turned his attention toward World War II and the Nazis with Jojo Rabbit. While this story of an impressionable Hitler Youth with a reverence for the German Führer had many comedic elements, it used its sense of humor to showcase the dark side of indoctrination, blind belief, and fascist doctrine.

While there was one brief battle scene at the end of the film, when Jojo witnesses the Allies’ victory, Jojo Rabbit mostly avoided depicting conflict, focusing instead on its ten-year-old protagonist’s misguided yet innocent worldview. Although there were plenty of laugh-out-loud moments throughout, ultimately, Jojo Rabbit reflected the dark side of war and prejudice.

The Lives Of Others (2006)

The Lives of Others was set prior to the end of the Cold War, during which East Germans lived in harsh circumstances under near-constant surveillance. As an account of citizens whose privacy has been stripped away from them, this story is told from the perspective of a Stasi captain who becomes increasingly absorbed in the lives of the couple he has been tasked with keeping track of.

With the backdrop of Cold War tensions, The Lives of Others was an espionage story that tapped into our inner sense of humanity. By highlighting how sympathy for one’s fellow man can be found in even the most oppressive of societies, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck underscored just how revolutionary the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was.

Casablanca (1942)

As one of the most quotable movies of all time, Casablanca was a wartime romance that has remained a touchstone of popular culture throughout the more than 80 years since its release. With Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund, there was a sentimental beauty to Rick’s struggle to choose between the love of his life and fighting against Nazi forces.

Casablanca represents the pinnacle of classic Hollywood as it told its heartfelt story with sentiment, humor, and pathos. As a Best Picture winner that never lost its magic, in 2006, the Writers Guild of America voted that, of all the screenplays in all the world, Casablanca’s was the very best.

Life Is Beautiful (1997)

The distressing realities of life in a Nazi concentration camp have been depicted on screen many times, but few movies captured the perseverance of those inside better than Life is Beautiful. Coming from writer, director, and star Roberto Benigni, this story follows the kindhearted bookshop owner’s attempts to shield his son from the horrors of imprisonment.

Life Is Beautiful captured the parental urge to protect one’s child from pain as Guido Orefice used the power of imagination to preserve his son’s innocence. As a wartime story that manages to be deeply sad while maintaining a sense of humor, this was a special film that captured the resilience of humanity even in mankind’s darkest days.