#3. What's the deal with the French character who introduces Nicky to the Russian Roulette den in Saigon? What is this character suppose to symbolize?

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2007)

In The movie The Deer Hunter the character Nick has been released from the military hospital into the city of Saigon for some R & R. Nick hears some gun shots coming form a house off of the main drag. He goes to investigate the sounds only to find a slick talking Frenchman dressed in white and sitting in a nice white car. The man talks to Nick while some bodies of men sporting red bandanas are carried out into the street. Even though nick is initially resistant he it convinced to enter the building and view the Russian roulette game. Nick becomes consumed with the game and plays it leaving to such an extent that he goes AWOL and drops off the face of the earth. Later on Michael and Steve find out that Nick is still alive and Michael returns to Saigon. When Michael finally finds the Frenchman at the roulette den and asks him for help the Frenchman is unhelpful and stubborn.
The Frenchman symbolizes the interactions between the United States and France leading up to and during the Vietnam War. France, who was originally involved with the war asked the US for help and even though we were unsure and leery France persuaded us to help out, just like the Frenchman persuades Nick to enter the roulette den. Once entering the war things fall apart and The United States is found in the midst of a war with no way out just like Nick and his "game". Finally when Michael goes to the French man for help he is turned down and met with an ungrateful and stubborn front. When the war started to take its toll on the United States, they asked for help from the ones who got them into that mess. The French simply reused the US's request and left us out to dry until we twisted their arm enough to get minimal aid in the war they go us involved with.