Film Studies 4th Block

Rating: 9/10 (19 December 2013)

The French man who runs the Russian Roulette den represents an interpretation of France's involvement in Vietnam. At first, the man lures Nick into the den and gets him to join, like how France, being an ally of the U.S., brought America into the Vietnam war. However, when the den becomes dangerous, the man abandons it and, in a way, leaves Nick for dead. While it's not necessarily true, the film is essentially saying that France got the U.S. into Vietnam and then left without trying to get them back out. I'm not entirely certain if the director was trying to blame France for the troubles in Vietnam, but it certainly seems to be the case. One way or the other, once Nick (America) is in, the only way out is to lose.