Film Studies

Rating: 7/10 (9 December 2014)

#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?
The relationship between the French character and Nicky is supposed to represent France and the United States during the war. Int he movie, the French character is trying to get Nicky to play Russian Roulette, speaking good English and being relatively friendly. This represents France trying to get the United States to help them in the Vietnam War. Like Nicky, the United STates wasn't sure, but they ended up helping in the end. Then, when the war started going poorly, the UNited STates asked France for help. France pretended like they didn't know what was going on and refused. They didn't want money, they didn't want anything. They just didn't want to be associated with the war anymore. This is represented when Mike goes to ask the French character for help on where to find Nicky, and the French character pretends like he doesn't even understand English. He doesn't want Mike's money, all he wants is for Mike to leave. So, basically, the French character symbolizes France's involvement with the United STates and the Vietnam War.