A tense and moving morality tale

Rating: 8/10 (1 October 2001)

This is a very gripping movie. Michael J Fox is excellent as the anguished young GI who keeps his integrity and grows in determination and stature; and Sean Penn's sergeant is frighteningly realistic. The combat situation is caught very effectively early on, and the characterisation of the men in the early scenes is deft and economical - and adds a great deal of depth to what happens later. The presentation of the group dynamics of the unit which abducts and rapes the Vietnamese girl is thought-provoking throughout, and convincing both in its sense of almost casual reality, and in its increasing intensity. The moral complexities of the situation and its aftermath are never ducked - we hear from all sides, and are implicitly challenged by the actions of all the characters. At the end we also see the cost to the Michael J Fox character of the stand he took. It seems he will remain haunted by the incident for life - and the film will surely stay with those who watch it, and disturb us with awkward questions. What would we have done?