distant now; the memories that 10-year atrocity fade; the mass clamour of dissent has evaporated.
But guilt, doubt, anxiety linger on in US society feelings of uncertainty about America's democratic role still clutter the imagination.
The awkward Vietnam CHICS re-interpretation in new col ours, using simply, homely categories. needs to represented afresh; the ideological account must be settled.
The American public needs to be definitively re-positioned and reassured in relation to those events done in its name. This The Deer Hunter does insidiously and well.
Here we had one of the poorest countries in the world invaded, blasted, defoliated, of that suffering and emanates exclusively from the Vietnamese, North and South; one in which the agents of oppression American imperialists, Pentagon, the presidency of the vanish.
For Cimino, the Vietnamese of experience becomes essentially a voyage of self-discovery for the central character, (played by Robert de Niro). It is be a vovage which attirms supposedly timeless apolitical virtues of courage, loyalty, friendship, love and trust.
These values - so empty in the face of the inflicted on the people - in fact become the raison d'etre of the film.
They are all that the USA can CYCIE half-seriously brutality the imperialist adventure. historical The principal meaning which the emerges from the film's early the episodes of the protagonists Michael, Steve and Nick — completely home and work in the industrial mid-West is the InDorance male, "buddy-boy' life-style.
Everything is posed in terms Michael of male action, togetherness; the ing, singing. Women are largely (and passive shadows or objects. It is irrelevant to argue that this is how American workers do behave — treated 'realistic. ally' suffering combined Vietnamese ioning US nationalism, it can only be stated and celebrated 'Macho' stars-and-stripes worship salvage come virtues, rather than part whole disastrous at Vietnamese validity and My Lai). macho, king. drink- and working, in Midnight Express.
their play Russian roulette uncritically, and with an unquestin the swirling river.
behaviour and beused "tiger-cages' of the ideology which kept the prisoners. USA in Vietnam for so long.
The second section of the film whisks us to Vietnam, just wounded in time to see a lone NLF soldier separated. barbarically blowing up South villagers (forget Nick The three buddies are taken prisoner. We are then treated to the most racist treatment of Since Alan there.
Parker's depiction of the Turks He finds The NLF soldiers gamble as in a prisoners are forced to with a loaded pistol. Meanwhile the gamblers. waiting victims are kept caged Forget that it was the Saigon regime, ably supported by the Americans, which extensively for their Militant guys boots, horses get shot at, And there's no need for one moment of anxiety because, as best cartoons, even the bullies, always comes bouncing back The epitome of all this is the irrepressible John Belushi cartoon character — who smashes bottles over his head, breaks guitars, roars and grunts and lumbers amicably through the movie as a kind of Wed 28 Don't just the imperative.
Animal House really shows you what escapism is all about - doing everything you've ever thought of doing, but with more panache than you'd ever It's as if Marvel Comics had somehow got hold of the plot of If and quadrupled it! A silly, loveable film, that never dries up — and, against all odds, leaves your heart more or less in Our three heroes escape to Saigon, but Nick and Steve are and the group Steve is shipped back to the US, minus his legs;
deserts; and Michael returns to his home town, but then goes back to Saigon, just before its fall, to redeem his pledge to Nick not to leave him Nick a mindless heroin addict about to take part back-room of game Russian roulette, surrounded by depraved South Vietnamese Despite Michael's pleading and his participation in the game' himself - the ultimate HU gesture of loyalty - Nick gets unlucky and blows his brains out. Back home at the funeral, entertainment tour Forde Piranas and local banc Pranas and one Leyton Buzzards Sat 24 Middlesbrough Teesside Poly /ton Buzzard: Barry Forde Pirana and local band. Sun 25 Lancaster Un Leyton Buzzards, nterfere Fer Tue 21 onv Ones and interterene.
Edinburgh Clouds: Stiff Little Fingers 190 1 ane Caro Cumes Stirling Unl Little Mekons 713.10. and care animes. nur zy Aberdeen music nail THE Hate Michael, his family, and other friends solemnly sing 'God Bless America' as the closing credits roll.
The central symbol of the film is the Russian roulette device which is repeated on four separate, dramatic occasions. It clearly stands as a symbol for war.
For Cimino, war is simply a brutally abstract and meaning. less game of chance, governed by blind fate; not a concrete historical event governed b real economic and politica forces (plus human choices) which possible understand and change.
War drops out of history -guilt. blame, responsibility, nothing to be learnt. Well, at least for Americans 'n' Braces. Mon 9 Exeter Routes: Joh: Graces and Fans. Cimmaron: Bent 'n Tue 10 Plymout Woods: JOnn Cooper Clark -Cimmarons. beir n braces and M' Wed 11 Newport Stowaway John Cooper Clarke, subs and local Dano. nur 12 DuSTO uni. conn cooper wiarke cimmaron:
n subs ano a-vens. sun to Londo Ally rany, Danos te be contened first issue of Rock Against Sexism's dRAStic measures is now our price y with a long article Love Sex -Sexism' by Lucy Toothpaste Among RAS's aims is to fight sexism in music and to use music to fight sexism at large".
More info from: RAS, 121 Grandison Road London SW11. Badges (as illustrated) 15p plus 10p postage.
Socialist Challenge 15 March 1979 page 15