Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan opens with a stark scene: the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach (in France) during World War II. The opening scenes of the film focus on U.S. soldiers' landing on that beach, led by Captain John Miller (played by Tom Hanks) from the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Miller and his squad, as well as countless other soldiers, witness the horror and bloodshed of that day, as countless soldiers lose their lives at the hands of the German military, who mercilessly killed them. Miller's squad suffers heavy losses but manages to survive the onslaught and proceed on their mission to provide support to paratroopers who had jumped into the warzone days before the official landings on the beach.
Following this harrowing experience landing on the beaches, Captain Miller is assigned a new mission. He must locate Private James Francis Ryan (played by Matt Damon), a paratrooper whose three brothers have been killed in combat. The U.S. War Department had a standing policy that prevented every living member of a family line from dying in combat. They wanted Ryan to return home to preserve his family tree and allow him to console his grieving family because of their immense sacrifice.
As Miller and his squad journey through war-torn France searching for Ryan, they face numerous challenges and moral dilemmas. On their journey, several squad members question the value and logic of risking their lives to save a single soldier. This leads to internal conflict; it also strains Miller, who has to deal with the fallout.
Not only are Miller and his squad forced to contend with psychological turmoil, but they almost must face the harsh physical consequences of war. They encounter countless German soldiers bent on doing them harm, as well as other treacherous situations and buildings caused by the war. They also face the unique logistical problem of not knowing exactly where Ryan is, forcing them to do tremendous legwork. In the end, they ultimately locate Ryan, who is defending a strategically important bridge in a French village. The squad tells Ryan the news of his brother's untimely death. Nevertheless, Ryan refuses to leave and is determined to abandon his post, feeling his duty is to continue serving with his squad.
Faced with this predicament, Miller and his men decide to aid Ryan and his fellow soldiers in defending the bridge against an impending German attack. They initially argue about helping Ryan, but decide helping him is what is right. The film culminates in a fierce battle for the bridge, wherein several Allied troops (including Miller) die. Captain Miller's last words to Ryan are "Earn this," encouraging him to live up to the sacrifices made for him.
The film moves forward to the present day, where an elderly Ryan visits Miller's grave in Normandy. There, Ryan reflects on his life and asks his wife, whom he had been married to for many years if he had lived up to Miller's directive to "earn this" and be a good man. His wife says yes.
