SAIGON: YEAR OF THE CAT
UK, 1983, 105 minutes, Colour.
Judi Dench, Frederic Forrest, Chic Murray, Yim Hoontrakul, E.G. Marshall, Josef Sommer, Wallace Shawn, Roger Rees.
Directed by Stephen Frears.
Saigon: Year of the Cat has excellent credentials for a television film. It was written by prolific playwright David Hare (Wetherby, Plenty, and Oscar nominations for his screenplays for The Hours and The Reader) with director Stephen Frears (films of the 80s including Dangerous Liaisons and My Beautiful Laundrette, films of the 90s including Mary Reilly, films in the first decade of the 21st century including the Oscar-nominated The Queen as well as Dirty Pretty Things). It has a strong central cast.
The film is set in 1975, the last months in Saigon. Judi Dench portrays a middle-aged woman working in a bank, and Frederic Forrest portrays a CIA analyst at the American embassy. They begin an affair.
Their relationship is seen in the light of the collapse of the American presence in Vietnam, the final surrender and the fall of Saigon. The film has its personal focus as well as its international focus – and continues to be relevant, especially in the light of the American invasion of Iraq almost thirty years later.
1. The writer and his career? The director and his career? Combining for a British television film?
2. The British background, perspective? The picture of Vietnam? The comment on Vietnam? In the 80s, the retrospective of 1975?
3. The locations and atmosphere, the authentic feel of Asia, Vietnam, Saigon, the war? American technology? American weapons? The music and the moods?
4. A literate drama, the playwright and his valuing of words? As drama, as cinema?
5. The title, the focus on Asia, Vietnam, the war, the United States in Vietnam, 1974-75? Washington and its interests? The staff at the embassy, the various aides, analysts, military? The rightist attitudes of some of the CIA? The role of the ambassador? The contact with Washington, the president? The judgment on Vietnam?
6. Barbara and her voice-over, British, a detached person, involved with Bob? Love, inhibited? Her comments on Vietnam? The quotes? Attitude towards the United States?
7. Barbara and her background, her mother? Working at the bank? The bridge parties? The relationship with Frank – or not? In love with Bob, the beginning of the affair, talking with him, the expectations, passion, desperation? Her superior? Mr Haliwell and the gun? The social background in Saigon? Jack Ockham and his presence? Saigon and the war, deteriorating, the girl leaving? Quoc and the inhibitions? Bob’s absence? The fall of the city, the packing of the embassy, the truth to Bob, her feelings, watching him, going?
8. The character of Bob, as a CIA analyst, a pleasant man, his beliefs, dodging the draft? The encounters with Barbara, whether to begin the affair or not? Their sharing, talking? Leftist leaning? His contacts with the ambassador, with Jack, with Frank? The quality of his work? The months with Barbara? His having to go? Helping with references? Leaving the files?
9. The ambassador, his role, heroics, final departure?
10. Jack and his toughness, the party, his ruthlessness, waiting for the groups, his leaving?
11. Frank, his advice, his not being a winner?
12. The attitudes of the staff? The marines? The parties and socials? 1974-75, the year of the cat? The worsening of the war? Information and briefings, the embassy surrounded? Their technology, shredding documentation? The famous scene of the helicopters? The groups leaving?
13. The background of life in Vietnam and in Saigon, the ordinary aspects, the bars, the Europeans, the French, the girls and the clubs, General Thieu, the military? Quoc and his place? The bank? The refugees?
14. The bank, Donald Henderson and his work, Mr Haliwell, staying to the end? Symbolic of British fortitude?
15. The film’s story in the retrospect of the decades, in changing attitudes towards the war, for and against, a portrait of people in a war situation?
