Film Studies Review Assignment

Rating: 7/10 (1 December 2014)

Response to #3
The French character who introduces Nick to the Russian Roulette den in Saigon symbolizes France persuading the US to go into Vietnam in 1955. France had been fighting in Vietnam for 7 years, and began to lose control in 1954. They wanted to the US to help them, so they persuaded them to come fight the war to stop the spread of communism. The French character in The Deer Hunter represents France in the Vietnam War because he shows Nick a place to play Russian Roulette. He shows Nick that it is possible to win a lot of money. This is emotionally scarring for Nick because he had been forced to play Russian Roulette in the Vietnamese war prisons. Nick plays in the den, and gets hooked. When Mike returns to Saigon to bring Nick home, Mike finds the French man again. This time, the French man says he does not know where Nick is, and says he wants no part. Mike pays the French man to bring him to Nick, and the French man shows him the Roulette Den. Once they get to the den, the French man returns Mike's money and says he wants no part in getting Nick back to America. This ordeal represents France at the end of the Vietnam War. When it was clear the US wasn't going to win the war, France pretended like they had never tried to bring America into the war. Mike attempting to bring Nick back to America represents the US trying to get out of the war without looking bad. The French character represents France before and after the Vietnam War, and shows their feelings toward the US and the War in general.