Once We Were Brothers

When Ben confronts Elliot at the opera house, why does he do it with an unloaded gun with no firing pin? What is the significance of using a Nazi pistol to threaten Elliot? And how does this relate to the distinction evident in Ben’s actions between vengeance and justice?

Should Elliot’s long history of charitable works affect the decision to prosecute him for Nazi war crimes? Can decades of good works and generosity make up for five years of monstrous behavior? If so, does the societal value of prosecuting war criminals outweigh the desire to forgive a criminal after years of atonement?

In hindsight it can feel maddening to consider all the families who, faced with imminent annihilation, chose to stay in Europe amid the Nazi scourge. Based on Ben’s conversations with Catherine, are these feelings fair or shortsighted?