THE IRON TRIANGLE
US, 1989, 91 minutes, Colour.
Beau Bridges, Haing S. Ngor, Johnny Halliday.
Directed by Eric Weston.
Iron Triangle begins as conventional Vietnam war movie, but shifts to a picture of the Viet Cong, there strategies, action, interactions amongst themselves, seeing as persons rather than a faceless or nicknamed enemy. The film has the expected action sequences, filmed effectively in Sri Lanka. Beau Bridges is the American officer who is taken prisoner by the Viet Cong, encounters a young boy, does not kill him, begins to understand something of the Viet Cong as persons rather than merely as enemy. The film states that it is based on the diary of an unknown Viet Cong soldier. The film is brief, aims its action and message at a wide audience.
1. The Vietnam war, the memories of the 80s, reassessment? Traditions of the Vietnam war movies? Audience expectations?
2. The Sri Lankan locations, standing in for Vietnam? The jungles, actions, special effects? Musical score?
3. The film based on the diary of Viet Cong boy, his perspective on the action, people, the Americans, Vietnam and its land, national spirit?
4. The opening and Keenan, his voice over, comment the terrain, the mission? In action, his men; the brutal deaths? His perspective on the war? The American perspective?
5. The two Americans on mission, killed, the Viet Cong taking their guns? the boy and his youthfulness, on the mission, shooting the soldiers, taking the gun? His rifle and his leaning on his communist authority? The jealousy and going to the leader? The decision in favour of Ho? The life and style of the Viet Cong guerillas? Headquarters? Interactions? Relaxing together, patriotism? Their suffering? Relationship with the South Vietnamese?
6. The portrait of Ho, the story about his father's death, being eaten up by revenge, with the Viet Cong, the guerilla missions? The woman and her propaganda, listening to her in the village? The raid his killing the bodyguard and the woman? Capturing Keene? Keene not killing him? Still alive, on guard, giving Keene the food? The clash with his rifle? Talking with Keene, the trek to escape and return to the leader? Sending his friend with a message, his rival and his friends death, the head in the bag? The confrontation, Keene killing the rival? His escape? Action, the raid, Keene encountering the injured Ho, persuading him not to set off the grenade? Living? The Viet Cong and the final raid, Ho's girlfriend and her walking to death, setting off the grenade? Killing the brutal South Vietnamese soldier?
7. The glimpse of the American soldiers, seeing themselves only as soldiers in response to their country's need? Weapon power, surveillance? The portrait of individuals?
9. Keene, the decent American officer, his voice over, his experience with the South Vietnamese soldier? Captured? The final raid? Finding Ho's diary? The effect on him?
10. The propaganda woman, her French bodyguard and his memories of the French defeat in the 50s? The speeches in the village, the people reacting, wanting to own the land? The speech of the old man, the bodyguard shooting him at the Buddhist shrine? Their deaths?
11. The Vietnam war, American perspective, Vietnamese perspective? A human face of war?
