Frenchman's Symbolism

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 2013)

The French character was meant to symbolize the French involvement in Vietnam. He is welcoming and helpful at first, inviting Nick into the den (just like the French were very inviting and helpful at the beginning of the Vietnam war). But then when things were going badly in the war, the French retreated and were no help at all, just like the Frenchman in the movie. When Saigon was about to fall, instead of helping out Mike, he tried to just get out of there, which was seen as cowardice by Mike. This hurried retreat and unhelpfulness from France did not bode well with the American public, who blamed France for losing the war. I also couldn't help noticing that both times France is presented in the movie (as the man), he is rather sleazy. Even though he's nice at first, he's also running a Russian Roulette den. And at the end he is portrayed as a coward, running away from Saigon. Either way he is presented as a man (or country) with lose morals and few scruples. I think this representation demonstrates the general animosity felt towards France after the war by the American public.