What is the music video for metallica's song "One" about???

It is about war and one particular soldier.

well if you listen to the lyrics it is about a soldier that has stepped on a landmine in the war.

• landmine has taken my sight,taken my speech, taken my hearing, taken my arms, taken my legs, taken my soul- left me with life in hell–

imagine being trapped inside your body with no means of communicating or interacting with the outside world, the only world you know is what is inside your mind, your memories, your thoughts, your fears, trapped inside a prison which is your own self- that is what the song is all about, the daily torture of a shell of a human being- kept alive most likely against his own wishes- the only person in his world of darkness and silence- thus the title ONE.

There is a book called “Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo. I read this book and it made me cry because I was young and innocent. I cried again when I saw that video. I believe without a doubt, that Metallica’s “One” was inspired by that book. A movie was adapted from the book in 1971, and that is where the clips you saw came from. I highly recommend you read this book, especially if you like the song.