Through centuries of evolution, humans have thought of animals or “beasts of nature” as nothing more than simple “tools” that assist us in our daily lives. But has this mindset become more compelling in terms of the value of life among species in the 21st century than it is today? He says it differently in Steven Spielberg's The War Horse, as he begins the film with the birth of a magnificent thoroughbred horse named Joey and the appearance of a brilliant young man named Albert Narracott. We follow the lives of these two characters and observe all the difficulties and intricate relationships that are created, often giving a glimpse into the strength of the bonds created between man and horse in the film. We soon learn that the horses in the story resemble more than just a tool/weapon, but also symbolize more of the humanity of humans and how humans thought, acted, and felt during World War I. First, Spielberg begins the film with an elegant, open setting of wide open fields with green grass and high hills in the opening scene to symbolize a sense of freedom for the audience. This way of using the setting allows viewers to glimpse one of the meanings/roles played by horses in the film, which was meant to symbolize freedom. The main horses, Joey and Topthorne, played several important roles in helping humans escape the reality of a situation. An example of this is during the scene where Michael Schröder is separated from his brother Gunther Schröder in the army, which prevents them both from protecting each other and both returning home to their mother alive, as they promised her. Michael, at that time, only had one way to escape to freedom, and that was horses. He didn't care about the... middle of paper... full horse returning from no man's land. Albert immediately knew who the horse was, demonstrating how close his bond with Joey was and thus, further supporting how strong his hope and determination was, that he could meet the horse who had been separated from him years ago. In conclusion, The War Horse, directed by Steven Spielberg, was a film that depicted many of the intricate relationships between a human and a horse during the World War I period, showing how the horses in the film represented more than just tools but symbolized the the humanity of humans in relation to the freedom humans desired during World War I, the power of humans and the tactics used to achieve that strength, and finally the determination and hope one must hold on to in order to maintain one's humanity. As a result, this film shows the audience that animals and humans can relate to the same terms