my interpretation on these parallels

near the beginning of the movie where baumer is at school, we see him drawing the bird that sat by his window. assuming the bird resembles his youth and freedom

keeping in mind that the sketch of that bird had a lot of details, compared to the scene at the end of the movie where he draws only the outline of the bird. could be just that he didn’t get to finish it, but I like to think that it resembles how much of his mind has been stripped of that youthful freedom he once had.

the sketch of the bird being detailed in the beginning meant that he was still innocent, his vision of the life ahead of him was pure, and clear. but from being tossed and turned from war, we now only see the outline of the bird, because his vision of a pure and happy life is now merely a blur. it’s a faint message that the freedom and peace of mind he seeks cannot be fulfilled, and he only has the “idea” of it.

It was also sad to watch that part when he returned home. he was probably just seeking a moment of happiness and connection. but all he was repeatedly talked to about was war war. like every part of his life changed because of war. he can no longer find the same kind of solace he found at home because his world is ripped apart by war