powerful

Rating: 10/10 (15 March 2005)

Even for those who find Conrad a bit much, this film brings the quagmire that we call the "Vietnam War" into clear focus. Like Lawrence of Arabia, the film forces us to ask the question of what would induce a high-ranking officer of the dominant Western country to "go native." In forcing us to reconsider the justification of military intervention into other peoples' cultures--and especially in light of recent U.S. efforts to democratize Iraq--this film provides provocative social commentary. Although disturbing, the film is a reminder of what happens when we blindly follow the ideology of a dominant elite that falls prey to its own rhetoric. Astute observers will see that Conrad's discussion of early British coloniailsm in Africa, this film's focus on U.S. intervention in Vietnam strikes a familiar chord to the present occupation activities in Iraq.