CASUALTIES OF WAR
US, 1989, 113 minutes, Colour.
Michael J.Fox, Sean Penn, John Leguizamo, John C. Reilly.
Directed by Brian de Palma.
Casualties of War is a powerful Vietnam war film written by David Rabe (ex-Vietnam veteran, author of Streamers) and directed by Brian de Palma, best known for his Hitchcock homages like Obsession, Sisters, Dressed to Kill as well as The Untouchables.
The film is based on a true incident of the war, 1966, written up as a short novel for The New Yorker by Daniel Lang. It focuses on a small group who go out on a patrol, kidnap a village girl, use her as a prostitute and then kill her. Sean Penn is quite persuasive as the leader of this group. Michael J. Fox, a serious Lutheran from the Midwest, is the voice of conscience and the audience sees the incident through his bewildered and disgusted eyes and shares his moral dilemmas.
The action sequences are particularly strong. The rape sequences are particularly vivid and bring home to audiences of men and women the utter humiliation and degradation inflicted on the rape victim. The film is highly critical of American macho attitudes, the presumptions of soldiers during war. With its emphasis on civilisation and the loss of civilised behaviour, the film is also a critique on the war.
The film has a quiet ending - which seems to undermine the high and powerful drama of what has gone before.
1.The traditional Vietnam War films in the '80s? This perspective from the late '80s? A memoir of the '60s? The waging of the war, American involvement? Moral issues? Justice?
2.The perspective of David Rabe and his war experience? Brian de Palma and his melodramas? An effective combination?
3.The use of Thai locations, Panavision? Audiences immersed in the war? Action, stunts and special effects? Ennio Morricone's score, choral effects?
4.The perspective of Sven Eriksson? In the train, his seeing the Vietnamese girl, his anxiety, his memories? The flashback technique? The devout Lutheran, the American soldier, committed to the army? His not being in Vietnam long? In action, the attack, the explosion, his being wedged in the ground, his legs in the tunnel? Terror, the bombardment? Meserve rescuing him? His experience of the horrors of war?
5.Meserve, his personality, in command, tough, the daring rescue of Eriksson? His friendship with the group, his black buddy and his death in the field? His relationship with the group? His attitude towards the enemy, bitterness? The attacks on the Viet Cong? His criticisms of Eriksson as a sympathiser?
6.Eriksson and his gentle manner, ploughing with the old man? The children and the fruit? The Viet Cong attack, his shock? Criticisms of him as a sympathiser?
7.Back at base, hospital, recuperation, orders, the wanting of a night on the town, not being able to go to the brothel? Angers, against the VC? Racial attitudes, prejudice, hatred of the enemy?
8.Meserve and his decision about the mission, the attitudes of the rest of the group? Their trek through the jungle, arriving at the village? Choosing the girl, the brutal taking of her from her mother? The girl's anguish? The forced march, Eriksson on point, the girl carrying the pack? Arrival at the hut?
9.The focus on the girl, kidnapped, her mother, her pain and anguish, bewilderment, language? The attitude of the men? Leering? Carrying the pack, her cut back? The rape sequence - from Eriksson's perspective? The brutality, using her? Her fear? The aftermath, the shame? Her hunger, Eriksson trying to help her, trying to free her? Caught by Clarke? At the railroad? The orders to kill? Clarke stabbing her, her staggering across the rail, Eriksson trying to save her? Her being shot? The pathos of her experience and death?
10.Meserve and his attitude, callous, presumption? Macho, using women, the enemy? His rationalisations about her being Viet Cong? The arguments with Eriksson? Diaz and his not wanting to rape the girl, wanting Eriksson's back-up and vice-versa? His loyalty to the group, being cowed by them? His participation in the rape? Clarke and his viciousness? Hatcher as the dumb American soldier? The talk about beer?
11.Leaving the hut, the mission? Eriksson on guard? The river, the shooting? The transportation of weapons? Hatcher and his ignorance, giving positions away by shooting? Clarke and his wanting to kill the girl? Eriksson ordered to shoot, the others and their refusal? Clarke stabbing her? Eriksson firing the shot and disrupting his group? The helicopters, the raid, the bombardment?
12.Eriksson going to the authorities? His talking with the black commander, the commander giving the allegory of his own experience and humiliation, the birth of his child, his wife on the floor? His advising to forget and things would be calm again? The officer and his abuse of Eriksson, the silence, wanting to transfer him? Eriksson and the attempts on his life? Getting drunk? Talking to the chaplain and telling the story?
13.The group and their revenge on Eriksson, the tension of the grenade in the latrine? Eriksson taking the shovel and hitting Clarke, challenging Meserve? Disgusted that the authorities didn't care?
14.The trial, justice in action, the cross-examination and the attitude of each of the group - their values, lack of values? Their sentences? Meserve and his whispering to Eriksson?
15.Waking up in the train, getting out, giving the girl her scarf, her talking to him, talking about waking from a bad dream? His own, American society's?
16.The comment on the macho soldiers, the talk about Genghis Khan and rape? Attitude towards the victim? The pathos of the victims?
17.Themes of war, the title? Civilisation and values? Eriksson's comment that if men are about to die, they should act better and not recklessly? A challenge to conscience?
