A Midnight Clear

An American war drama film released in 1992 in the United States, directed by Keith Gordon, based on the novel of the same name by William Wharton. Set in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge, the story follows six American intelligence soldiers with high IQs — Sgt. Will "Won't" Knott (Ethan Hawke), Bud Miller (Peter Berg), Mel Avakian (Kevin Dillon), Stan Shutzer (Arye Gross), Vance "Mother" Wilkins (Gary Sinise), and Paul "Father" Mundy (Frank Whaley) — who are sent to a deserted chateau near the front lines to observe enemy movements. They discover a nearby group of German soldiers who wish to surrender and propose staging a mock battle to protect their families from retribution. However, the plan goes awry when Wilkins, unaware of the arrangement, opens fire, leading to the deaths of all the Germans and Mundy, with Shutzer wounded. The film delves into themes of humanity, morality, and the absurdity of war, illustrating how understanding can emerge even between enemies. The film received positive reviews from critics for its profound narrative and performances, particularly highlighting Ethan Hawke's portrayal and Keith Gordon's direction.