BUFFALO SOLDIERS
US, 2001, 98 minutes, Colour.
Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Anna Paquin, Elizabeth Mc Govern, Michael Peña, Leon, Gabriel Mann, Dean Stockwell.
Directed by Grigor Jordan.
Buffalo Soldiers is an acerbic satire on the American military. While there were humorous films about World War II, it was only with a film like The Americanisation of Emily, 1964, followed by M*A*S*H and Catch 22, that American audiences were really introduced to satire on what they had regarded with patriotic fervour, military action and action in war.
This film is set in 1989, the Berlin Wall about to come down, the collapse of the Soviet Empire imminent.
A group of soldiers stationed in Germany, with Joaquin Phoenix as one of those scroungers who can pick up anything, sell anything on the black market, give advice to his superiors – and get away with everything. He has some buddies, including Michael Pena, clashes with a gang of black American soldiers who threaten his enterprises. By accident, he discovers a truck full of weapons and tries to sell these to locals. A lot of the soldiers are stunned.
Ed Harris is his commander, a good but ineffectual man, married to a go-getting Elizabeth Mc Govern who is not above having an affair with her husband’s assistant. Into the camp comes a Vietnam veteran, Scott Glenn at his toughest, who challenges Phoenix who also falls in love with his daughter, Anna Paquin.
It is not long after the end of the Vietnam war and the transition that that made regarding the military, the behaviour of soldiers abroad, the attitude of the American public towards the military.
The film was directed by Grigor Jordan, Australian director of Two Hands and Ned Kelly.
1. A piece of Americana? Military? American military in the wars of the 20th century, especially Vietnam? The satiric tradition of films set in war? The Catch 22 stories, M*A*S*H?
2. Germany, 1989, the Berlin wall and its coming down? The military base at Stuttgart? Offices, buildings, the plant, accommodation, the hall for socials, the nuclear store, the courtyards, the roads in the towns, the fields? The atmospheric score?
3. The title, the military, the personnel, their attitudes and behaviour?
4. America in Russia, Eastern Europe, divided Germany? The Cold War? The American military presence in Germany, changes at the end of the 80s, the military mixing with the locals, helping the economy, the nature of the black market, commercial cleansers and re-sales, weapons, drugs, production lab, distribution? The different gangs, especially the black gang? Racial issues, the bashing of Elwood’s roommate? Inept commanders? The critique of corruption? In the aftermath of reports of military behaviour in the Vietnam War?
5. Elwood, Joaquin Phoenix, the choice of prison or the army, his criminal mind, his status in Germany, his group of friends, driving around, participating in the black market? His being an assistant to Col Berman, a sounding board for him, the yes-man, the relationship with his wife, sex? The variety of jobs, being used by the wife, preparing for the social?
6. The sales of the cleansers, the production of the drugs and the scenes in the laboratory? Getting the weapons, hesitation, storing them, going to the local Mafia and doing deals, discussions and bargaining, the exchange for drugs? Elwood and his experience, change of attitude, the threats from the local thugs?
7. Col Berman, a good man but inept, his wife and her ambitions, her affairs behind his back? His dream of buying the vineyard? Discussions with Elwood, losing his temper, apologies? Gullible signing of documents for Elwood? His wife urging him to the party, the story of the Iron Boar and his military heritage, the celebration of the party, rehearsing his words, the reaction of the General, General Marshall and the military connections, the general urging people to succeed from the ground up? His wife urging him to attack, the proposal of the defence of the plant? The trucks, thinking they were food supplies, General Marshall and his attack, the immediate defeat and surrender, Berman sitting on the Hill, removed from office, contemplating the vineyard?
8. Lee, his arrival, background, Vietnam, tough, regulations? The encounter with Elwood, permitting him to go to get things for the social? His searching Elwood’s room and finding the luxuries? Allotting a flatmate? The group shooting up the car for target practice? His daughter, Elwood, the date and his following them?
9. Lee’s daughter, her relationship with her father, living on bases, understanding him? Elwood and the attraction, fixing the battery? Seeing her dive? Her warnings, the sexual relationship, Elwood and his fear of heights, taking him to the diving board, the ultimate warnings? The and his daughter present at the social, friend of the General?
10. The absurdity of the stoned drivers of the tank, hearing the orders, smashing through everything, destroying the town, destroying the truck, the explosions? Elwood and his friends finding the trucks, the guns, their official disappearance?
11. The roommate, his background, Elwood’s offhand attitude, the man being bashed by the blacks, his gratitude to Elwood for saving him, becoming participant in the drug making, the irony of his report everything to Lee, Elwood and the betrayal?
12. The black gang, the pressures, the leader, the threats, in the nightclub, the bashing of the roommate? Wanting a percentage of the drugs, the deals, in the lab, waiting, the television with the Berlin Wall going down? The military attack, Elwood with Lee’s daughter, returning, the drug effects on the soldiers, shootings and massacres?
13. The escape, the building on fire, Elwood and the explosions, confronted by Lee, grabbing him and their both falling, Lee protecting him from dying?
14. The transfer to Hawaii, the genial and gullible commander, everything starting again?
