THE DEER HUNTER

US, 1978, 182 minutes, Colour.
Robert Di Niro, John Cazale, John Savage, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, Shirley Stoler.
Directed by Michael Cimino.

The Deer Hunter won the Oscar for Best Film, 1978. While unable to be as enthusiastic as Americans (after all, it is about them and their war), international audiences found this film very impressive and, for those able to sit through a central war torture section, with its exceedingly grim reality, a rewarding experience. Rather than a Vietnam war film (the second act gives only a vivid symbolic glimpse of it), it shows the effects of the war on three men who represent U.S. society, (established in a long measured Act One concerning a steel town and a Russian Orthodox wedding). The coming-home third act is grim yet hopeful that people must live on despite mistakes, evil and personal national tragedy. Its 1979 popularity can be linked with Coming Home and Hair.

1. How well did the film deserve its acclaim in 1978-79? A film of the 70s? Its impact for later audiences?

2. How particularly American was the film in its feeling, issues, portrayal of character? Its impact on an American audience which had experienced Vietnam and the changes of the 60s and 70s? Its impact for a non-American audience? The scope of the film and its presentation of the United States during this period? Its choosing of a section of the American community, a part of that section? What did the group represent? How did they symbolise the United States?

4. The realism of style and portrayal of character, invitation for audiences to identify with the characters? The counter-balance of the symbolism of the group, the selection of the characters? The importance of symbol for image and meaning - within the realistic style? The audience responding to identification with the characters and their experiences and yet responding to more? The importance of the details of realism to make the film credible? The difficulty with highlighting such details and audiences taking them too literally - the selection of this particular group, the migrant background, particular attitudes and styles of behaviour, work background? The difficulty and the criticisms of the film in its presentation of Vietnam, the Viet Cong, the fact that Russian Roulette was not used as torture or played in Saigon, the presentation of the fall of Saigon itself and Michael's comparative ease in getting there and moving around?

5. The structure of the film with its three parts forming a type of triptych? The impact of each individual section, the linking of each section with the other, the subsequent sections in light of the previous sections? The cumulative effect and the overall view of the film?

6. The significance of the title? Realism and the reference to Michael and the events? Symbol? The other men as hunters? The purpose of hunting, its skills and style, the psychology of hunting and stalking the prey in order to trap it and kill it? Hunting and killing? Death as the goal of hunting? The importance of guns as means for killing? Sophisticated weaponry e.g. the rifle? The joviality of the group going hunting? The film's highlighting the beauty of the area for hunting - and the choral music as background? The initial killing of the deer and its being strapped on the car as a trophy? The contrast with Michael hunting after the Vietnam experience and letting the deer go? His talking to Steven afterwards about letting the deer go? The second hunting expedition highlighting what had happened to him in Vietnam? The American man as pioneer, a deer hunter? The deer hunter and his patriotism and going to war, change and disillusionment, the aftermath? The colour photography, Panavision, the Pennsylvania locations of town, interiors, rivers and mountains? The contrast with Vietnam and its jungle, rivers, mountains? The presentation of Saigon and the hospital, the slum and the gambling dens? The contrast again with the United States and homes, hospitals? The religious settings of cathedral and cemetery? The musical background, the title theme and its plaintive tone throughout the film, the contemporary songs?

8. The contribution of the editing? The pace of the film especially the marriage, the attention to detail for tension especially in the Viet Cong torture, the editing and the contrast of episodes and the interweaving of the lives of the characters? The transitions from one place to another, one section to another?

9. The realistic symbols: The factories and the detailed attention to iron processing, the car, drinking, gambling, the whole symbol of the wedding with its religious ritual, the celebration afterwards, the symbolism of dancing, the hunting.. torture, the Russian Roulette itself, the cages, the rats, water, symbols of rescue, the phone for Nick and communication, the Russian Roulette in Saigon, Steven's lacking his legs, the funeral, the final song?

10. The impact of the violence and the way that it was presented, the torture sequences and their realism, symbolism? Was the violence too strong? For the average audience? The ability of the audience to watch, feel, identify? The use of strong language, swearing? Realistic, symbolic?

11. The introduction to Pennsylvania - the importance of the town and its feel, the roads, the trucks, the overpasses, the houses? The audience getting to know the town and the places where the characters lived? The men and women of Pennsylvania?

12. The portrait of American men at work, driving and being daring in cars, drinking, playing pool, betting? Comradeship, friendship? The manner of talking to each other, mutual understanding, the bonds between them? The Russian migrant background of these men? The inherited attitudes, culture and style, the adaptation to the United States especially in their patriotism?

13. How important was the wedding? The various details in preparation, the men leaving work, going to John's, going home, getting dressed, Angela and her bridal dress and the indications about her pregnancy, the bridesmaids and their scurrying up the street, Linda and her looking after her father, getting pushed around by him, going to Nick's and arranging to stay there while they were in Vietnam, Steven's mother and her presence in the church, her lament to the priest, the information about Angela's pregnancy, her dragging Steven away from the bar and hitting the men with the stick? How did these details fill in the background for the preparation for the wedding?

14. The wedding itself - the tracking of the camera over the details of the cathedral, of the choir, the religious ritual and celebration, processions, hymns, the consent, the processions and crowns etc.? The transition to the hall with the decorations, the photos of the three men as boys, patriotism? The variety of dances both contemporary and traditional? Eating, drinking? The platform and the band, the worker from the supermarket and his singing 'You're Too Good To Be True'? Steven and his enjoyment and love for Angela, Nick and his dancing with Linda, Michael and his staying generally at the bar and then dancing with Linda? The significance of the Green Beret man and his taciturn presence and swearing? The ritual drink and Angela spilling the wine on her dress? Speeches, farewells? The significance of Michael's run through the town, stripping, his talking with Nick? Why this culmination to the celebration?

15. The build-up to the hunting trip, their going as a group, the comradeship, the five men, their eating, the importance of stopping to urinate and then the jokes and leaving the man behind? The beauty of the mountains? Stan and the antagonism about the boots? Michael and his control, his leadership, his stalking the deer, Nick following? The shooting and the transition to the return back to John's? The drinking, the piano playing and the sudden change to Vietnam? How well did the film introduce us to the characters, help us to understand them, help us to respond to their Vietnam experiences?

16. The sudden impact of Vietnam, the helicopters, the explosions, the Viet Cong and the grenade amongst the civilians, the mother and the baby, the pigs eating, Michael and his flamethrower, the killing of the Vietnamese, the imprisonment? Was this sufficient background to indicate the realities of the war and its style in the jungle? The issues, the enemy?

17. The impact of the cage sequences, the fact of the three men present, the long attention to the Roulette, the language, the communication by smile and by gesture, the brutality and the frequent slaps? The close-ups of the deaths and the spurting blood? The reaction of each man to the Roulette? Michael and his control, his encouragement of Nick and Steven, his plan and its execution - with the risks of death spoiling it? Steven and his hysteria, his grazing his head, his being returned to the cage, the rats? Nick and his tenseness and cracking, surviving? The massacre of the Vietnamese, the escape, the log, the bridge across the river, Nick's being rescued, their falling from the helicopter, Steven and his injuries, Mike as the saviour carrying Steven? The encounter with the huge crowds and the people wandering the tracks of Vietnam?

18. The hospital sequence and Nick's trying to cope with his identity? The interrogation by the medical officer? Audience compassion for the shell-shocked men? His phone call and his looking at Linda's photo., not ringing her? His curiosity about the shooting, his involvement with the Frenchman, his fascination with the Roulette? The irony of Michael's presence there and his chasing him? His disappearing into Saigon and indications with the money sent to Steven? What caused Nick's downfall and inability for rehabilitation?

19. Michael and his rehabilitation, wandering the streets of Saigon, pursuing Nick and returning home without him?

20. Michael's return, the taxi ride, the banners in the street and the party? His hesitation? His going to the motel and the quiet return? Encountering Linda and the talk, the kissing, the crying? The importance of going to the market with her and the reaction of the people there especially the old lady and her kissing him, the compere from the dance? The later encounter with the men and the explanations about Vietnam - and their own explanations of why they did not go?

21. Linda and her work, her yearning for Nick? Her invitation to Michael and their going to the motel? Her carrying on? A future with Michael?

22. Michael and his going to the motel with Linda and not staying in the house? The transition to the hunt and his presence on the mountain alone, the ritual and the choral music, his stalking the deer and then not killing it?

23. The visit to Angela and her decline. the son and his presence, Steven's mother? Michael phoning and not following it through, his decision to phone, visit the hospital, promises to Steven, the encounter with him and his depression at the veterans and their playing bingo etc., his taking him away? The significance and emotion of this reunion?

24. what motivated Michael to return to Vietnam? The money sent by Nick? The background of the fall, the details of the people clamouring to get away and the later television commentary? The Mississippi, the encounter with the Frenchman and Michael's pressurising him, the deals? Nick's arrival and his non-recognition? Michael's desperation and his being prepared to give his life for Nick? Nick's breaking and death?

25. The pathos of the funeral? The film's making so much of the funeral, the graveside? From wedding to funeral?

26. The dramatic impact of the meal with the group returning to John's, the tensions, awkwardness. the preparations of the food and drink, plates, John and his tears and singing. the importance of the singing of 'God Bless America'? Its realism? An appropriate ending for this film? A critique of American involvement in Vietnam, its effect on the nation, their having to have trust in themselves and the nation and go on from the 70s?

27. The significance of what coming home from Vietnam and its changes meant?

28. Robert De Niro's portrayal of Michael? Characteristics, presence, Michael as hero, leader? At work, driving, drinking, his place at the wedding, the dancing, the encounter with the Green Beret man, his stripping, the leader in hunting, the fact that he saved Steven and Nick? And Linda? The man who represents the best in contemporary America - the ordinary man who can rise to heroism even in impossible circumstances?

29. Christopher Walken's Oscar-winning performance as Nick? How well did he establish his type with his swagger, manner of speaking, dancing and singing, playing pool, betting? His role at the wedding, at the celebration., his fear with the Roulette, the experience of it. his inability to communicate., not ringing Linda, being caught up in the Roulette, his being overcome by drugs and his death?

30. Steven as the ordinary young man? His mother's domination, his love for Angela and his not having had sexual relations with her, happy to be the father of her son? His friendship and dependence on this, his joy at the wedding, at the celebration? His fear in Vietnam and hysteria, his being rescued and losing his limbs, his withdrawal and hiding in the hospital? His presence at the end and hope for the future?

31. Linda as the ordinary girl, her father and having to cope with him, love for Nick, disappointments, love for Michael?

32. Angela and her place within this group, the marriage, her son, her mother-in-law? The dominance of the mother-in-law and the significance of this?

33. Stan and his friendship, his never understanding Michael, his weakness, his presence at the wedding, at the celebration and his punching his girlfriend? His irresponsibility and the question of the boots during the hunting? His welcoming them how? Axel and his inarticulate enjoyment of life? John and his music, the choir, food and drink, the hunting, his leading the song at the end?

34. The presentation of the Viet Cong and their cruelty. the Frenchman and his manipulation of money. the people who were playing Russian Roulette in Vietnam?

35. A portrait of people - the attention to detail and so many people in various walks of life?

36. A satisfying study of the United States and the issues confronting it in the 70s?