UNDER FIRE
US, 1983, 122 minutes, Colour.
Nick Nolte, Ed Harris, Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy, Jean Louis Trintingnant.
Directed by Roger Spottiswoode.
Under Fire is an interesting action adventure, a picture of journalists at work in the wars of the 1970s and '80s as well as an impassioned taking of a stand for the Sandanista rebels against the Somoza regime in Nicaragua.
The film could be compared with the Nicaraguan-made Alsino and the Condor, a film from the Nicaraguan peasants' point of view, mystified about the wars, suffering under the oppressive military regimes and American military advisers. This film was directed by Roger Spottiswoode, writer of 48 Hours and director of such films as Terror Train and The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper. Using Mexican locations, the film recreates the atmosphere of Nicaragua in 1979 and the taking of Managua by the Sandanistas. There is a prologue showing the work of American journalists and photo-journalists in Africa, in the war in Chad. This serves as a background for the kind of observation and later, involvement in Nicaragua. Nick Nolte is effectively stolid as the photojournalist whose photos go on Time Magazine cover. Joanna Cassidy is a strong heroine and Gene Hackman has an interesting role as the more peaceful journalist. Ed Harris portrays the American adviser-mercenary. The re-creation of the period and the tension is effective indeed.
Comparisons could be made with Costa Gavras' Missing as well as the journalist films Circle of Deceit and The Year of Living Dangerously. While there might be inaccuracies in detail, there is validity in the presentation of the case,
1. Interesting action adventure? The basis in the events of 1979 in Africa and Nicaragua? A perspective on contemporary history? A moral and political stance? The comment on Central America and military regimes and rebellions? The comment on the Carter administration and American aid?
2. The use of African locations, the use of Mexico instead of Nicaragua? An authentic impression of the country: the countryside, the city, wealthy society, the poor, the role of the media, the rebels? The strength of the action sequences? The score - and the use of Central American instruments and melodies for atmosphere?
3. The title and its urgency? The involvement of the journalists in the war? The immediacy of the media bringing the war to world wide audiences - the possibility of audiences experiencing being under fire? The background of 20th. century wars - the world wars, local wars, the wars of independence? The significance of the African prologue and Chad? Similarities to Central America, differences? The same kinds of war for the media observers and reporters? For the American mercenaries?
4. The stance of the writers and director? The observation of the wars in Africa, the fighting, the difficulty to tell the difference between sides, the role of the rebels, mercenaries, the media? The issues in Africa being clearer than those in Central America? The taking of a stance in Central America against the Somoza regime? The possibility of accusations of bias, making issues simplistic? The validity of the answer that events were being dramatised, not presented as documentary.
5. The workings of the media, the function of the media? The role of media personnel? Reporting, presenting the facts, presenting images? The striking images for dramatic purpose? Professional success - e.g. Time Magazine covers? The morality questions - and Russell being asked to alter a photo, use his cameras for propaganda purposes? The role of television in bringing immediate images -and the use of the television for showing Claire Alex's death?
6. The screenplay's establishing the characters and their attitudes in the African context - the opening credits and the countryside and audiences surprised that it could conceal so many soldiers, the elephant stampede. the helicopters, the photos? Oates as a mercenary and his not knowing which side he was with? The three American journalists and their presence., their choices - and the next war?
7. Nick Nolte's physical presence and style as Russell? The type. work in Africa, the effectiveness of his photographs - and the stills during the credits sequences? His mere observation in Africa? The encounter with Oates and discussion of the sides? The decision to go to Nicaragua? His skill and his ability to be present in dangerous situations. take the right photographs? The use of black and white stills to indicate the quality of Russell's work in Nicaragua? Socialising? Russell as a loner? Friendship with Alex, friendly banter? Alexis wanting to go back to America whereas Russell wanting action? The friendship with Claire, their falling in love, the beginning of the affair? The effect on each? The effect on Alex - seeming betrayal. Russell's explaining that he began the affair when Claire had left Alex? The experience of Nicaragua - the encounter with Jazy and his mysterious work? Taking photos of Somoza and Miss Panama for him? The world of receptions, hotels, media centres? The religious procession and the military interrupting it in searching for rebels - and the importance of Raffael? The search for Raffael and going out into the countryside? The difficulties of travel, the road blocks? The encounter with Oates - and his execution of so many rebels? The impact of finding Raffael dead? Alex and his trip? His wanting to find Raffael? Their going together, the impact of Alex's being shot? Being under fire, the streets, cars and buses, the shooting, the shelter? The ever-present danger? Russell deciding to take sides?
8. The contrast with Oates - his presence, the shooting, the amoral and uninvolved stances, his wanting good dope, his survival at the end? The condemnation of American mercenaries?
9. Alex and his ambitions, his wanting to return to America, his success as a news announcer, his return, the sense of betrayal, the reconciliation of the three, the search for Raffael, the image of Somoza on the horse - the Mussolini statue altered, his keeping faith with Russell about the changing of Raffael's photo? The suddenness of his death? Claire seeing the TV images of his death? (This incident in the film based on an actual incident in Nicaragua.)
10. Claire and her work, reports. filing? Place in Africa? The strong American heroine - 'the tough broad'? Relationship with Alex, tensions in Africa? Leaving him? Wanting to keep in the field? Her relationship with her daughter - the phone calls? Work in Nicaragua, the importance of her interview with Somoza - and reporting his answers to her public? Her questions about Somoza? Travelling with Russell? Her willingness to change the photo of Raffael? The growing tension, the reaction to Jazy, her search for Russell, her grief thinking he was dead, her being helped by the people in the town, her return and discovering that Russell was alive?
11. Jazy and his presence, the ambiguity of his work, place in society, friendship with Miss Panama, arranging the photographs, Russell's discovery of his room with all the photographs and the people marked for death, the encounter with the rebels,' his death speech and his defiance, his fascist and elitist stances? The ugliness of his death?
12. The portrait of Somoza, the background of his family, the ownership of the land, wealth? His smooth-talking American aide and his ability to cover up and speak to the press? Wealth, women, parties, speeches, condemnation of Raffael? His sensing that the end was at hand - and taking the coffin of his father and brother to Miami? Audience response to the Somoza regime and its downfall?
13. The sketch of the American PR aide? The military and their cruelty - the early procession and the attack, the assassinations, Jazy's circled photos, death in the streets, the young man helping Russell and Oates killing him?
14. The revolutionaries and their spirit, the justice of their cause, the banners, at Somoza's party and her place with the rebels, the guerrillas, the importance of changing Raffael's photo and getting morale for the rebels, the deaths, the execution of those responsible for Raffael's photo, the young rebels and the killing of Jazy? The ending?
15. The involvement of the ordinary people, wondering whether the war was over, the woman who helped Russell and concealed him from the soldiers, the soldier confronting Russell with the gun and going back to say that he was not present?
16. The action sequences, the involvement, the issues, the contemporary questions in central America?
17. The issues of the United States, the Carter administration, financial aid, military advisers?
18. The future of such countries as Nicaragua in terms of self-government, American aid and influence, left-wing influence?
