day 2/block 1

Rating: Null/10 (15 May 2007)

#3: The importance of the French character in the film was he represented the French in the war and how they 'drew' in and then basically turned their back on American involvement in the Vietnam War (as some Americans perceive it). The French man is first seen in his car after a guy playing Russian Roulette was brought out, dead. He calls from his car, enticing Nicky to come and watch. This is supposed to be reflective of how the French drew and pointed out that America should get involved or their areas might also be lost to the rebellious people if they couldn't prove they could easily subdue them. He becomes excited when he sees that Nicky seems fearless and says that with Nicky's attitude he can make Nicky very rich, and he takes off with the man in his car. As the movie progresses and Nicky gets deeper and deeper into the game, the French character backs away, until eventually he completely abandons Nicky. When Mikey comes he even claims that he doesn't know how to speak English. He tries to act life he is in no way involved or should be blamed for how Nicky has turned out. He backs off, constantly trying to slink back into the shadows while Mikey forces him to take him to where Nickey is and to, in away, take responsibility for what he's made of the man. The French man continues to back off until he disappears after the two friends confront each other again. This is representative of how the French, once it was obvious that the American's were losing they backed off acting like they had disapproved of the American's involvement from the beginning. In the end the French man was the indirect cause of Nicky's death.