On Inman, Ulysses McGill and Candide

While other complex issues such as love, and the effects of war on the individual's psyche and heart are explored in the film "Cold Mountain," the thread that ties the main character's overall experience in the film together, and the film's most easily visible theme, is that of Inman's journey back home to Carolina from his post in the civil war. After fighting in the civil war and seeing the utter destruction of human life …

…explored. Though drastically different in both their styles of story telling and in the personalities of their characters, "Cold Mountain," "O Brother, Where Are Thou?" and "Candide" are all tales of devoted lovers making their way back home to their sweethearts, and of the perils of their journeys. In the end though, each of them succeeds and thus, these three stories stand as testaments to the power of love and to the power of hope.