Saving Private Ryan is full of powerful, emotionally complex moments, and one of the most multifaceted comes when Private “Fish” Mellish bursts into tears after being handed a Hitler Youth knife. Coming just after the harrowing assault on Omaha Beach, the scene is arguably the first time the audience can draw breath after a relentless opening. However, with its portrayal of raw emotion, the scene also proves that Saving Private Ryan is pretty uncompromising from start to finish.
