Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“Soldiers, you do not have the luxury to be good. You have the burden to be better.”
Just when some of us think we’ve seen enough movies on World War II and believe there’s not much new to learn, a fresh cinematic experience comes along to prove us wrong. Before watching The Six Triple Eight, I didn’t know anything about the 6888th Postal Battalion of the US Women’s Army Corps (WAC), who were responsible for delivering a backlog of millions of mails during the war. For those already familiar with the battalion’s history, the movie might not be as exciting.
Directed by Tyler Perry, the 2024 war drama The Six Triple Eight is based on true stories and stars Ebony Obsidian as Lena Derriecott King, a young woman who joins the U.S. Army to fight Hitler, training under the fierce Major Charity Adams, played by Kerry Washington. Dominated by Black American women, Lena’s all-women battalion is tasked with clearing a staggering ten months’ worth of mail, amounting to 17 million letters and parcels to and from soldiers.
“When there is no mail, there is low morale,” Major Charity Adams tells her soldiers, even though she initially finds the task insulting – that the women are considered good enough only for handling the mail. But once the magnitude and psychological importance of the broken mail system becomes clear, the women dedicate all their time and wits to ensuring the soldiers get their letters. All this while they also endure racial discrimination, humiliation, and disrespectful behavior from their white counterparts. For instance, Adams is often put down by the racist and sexist General Halt (Dean Norris), who thinks Black women are dumb, stupid, and inferior. However, the racial depictions in the film often feel more caricature-like than authentic.
The Six Triple Eight opens with the personal life of Lena Derriecott, giving viewers a glimpse of the events that motivate her to join the army. Unfortunately, Ebony Obsidian fails to pack a punch as a pivotal character, lacking both the energy and onscreen charm to make her sentiments and experiences compelling. Moreover, disproportionate time is given to her romantic life instead of the wartime tension and challenges her squad faces. On the other hand, Kerry Washington shines as the tough, loud, and ambitious Charity Adams, her seething anger at the racial injustices her battalion faces tearing through the screen.
A host of big names make cameos in the movie – Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey – but their bit parts are completely forgettable and, frankly, unnecessary. With its 2-hour runtime, this war drama could have been sharper, tighter, and more impactful. Despite its uneven storytelling, The Six Triple Eight deserves brownie points for shedding light on a remarkable story of courage and determination. It’s a war drama that may not deliver a knockout punch but still leaves an impression.
Rating: 3.5 on 5 stars. Watch The Six Triple Eight on Netflix.
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