Gallipoli: A gut punch hidden in plain sight (thoughts on the sound design)

Okay, so I just re-watched Gallipoli (1981). I know, I know, late to the party, right? But seriously, I was blown away, and it wasn't just the story, which is obviously devastating. As a tech guy, I was REALLY paying attention to the sound design, and I think it's what makes the ending so completely brutal. Think about it: the whole movie builds this tension with the constant sounds of nature – the wind, the birds, and then the almost rhythmic pounding of the surf. It's almost idyllic. Then, bam! The battle scenes. The sound design during those scenes is so jarring compared to the rest of the film. The screaming, the explosions... everything is just so chaotic. And the way they use silence right before the attack... it's deafening. My theory is that the contrast between the natural sounds and the absolute hellscape of war is intentional. It's not just about 'showing' the brutality; it's about creating a soundscape that reflects the loss of innocence, or the corruption of nature itself. I mean, you see Archy running, right? And you can hear him running, but then it fades into just... silence. It's not just a visual of a charge gone wrong; it's a sonic punch. The silence is a scream, if that makes any sense. Also, a small detail I loved was the way they captured the Foley sound in those running scenes, you can almost feel the earth kicking up from the sprint. I really think the sound design in Gallipoli is seriously underrated. It's not flashy, but it's incredibly effective. Anyone else pick up on this or am I just overthinking it (probably)?