Apocalypse Now
1979

Literature vs. Fiction

What is film equivalent of literature?

Before the Film

The film is based on Joseph Conrad’s story Heart of Darkness which deals with the horrors of imperialism The film transports the story from Africa to Viet Nam

Some questions to think about during the film:

Is this an anti-war film? Is it an anti-Viet Nam war film? Is it an anti-U.S. Government film?

After the film

The text based on Heart of Darkness

Classic lines from the film:

I wanted a mission, and for my sins they gave me one. ….It was a real choice mission …and when it was over, I’d never want another one.
I love the smell of napalm in the morning. It smells like victory.
I told you not to stop.
The horror, the horror.
Lighting:

The film opens with a bright establishing shot of a jungle and progresses into darkness. By the end of the film the film is barely visible.

Bright lights at show are last hint of “civilization” before descent into darkness.

Final sequences are very dark – Kurtz almost invisible, Willard emerging from the water in almost total darkness with flashes of lightning.

Sound

The film opens with the peculiar sound of Huey helicopters crossing in front of the camera.

Music:

Popular songs highly representative of the period.

Film opens with song by the Doors called “The End”

This is the end, my friend
Of all our plans, the end
Of everything the end

And all the children are insane.

 Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkuere.

What is the opera Die Walkuere about?
Who are the Valkyrie?
Why are they relevant to this film at the moment when the music is played?

Ultimately native music

Transformations:

How similar are Kurtz (Brando) and Willard (Sheen). Is Willard becoming Kurtz?

What has happened to Kurtz? He came to help the “savages” and has wound up saying “Exterminate the brutes” (Apocalypse Now).

Has he become one of the brutes? What kind of understanding does he have?

What does the fiml say about becoming a brute?

Others appear to have gone to "get" Kurtz before and joined with him rather than exterminating him. Is this happening to Willard?

Why has this change occurred?

Is the transformation caused by contact with Africa (Viet Nam) or the natives there? Why do they lose their humanity and their lofty ideals are replaced with violence and hatred?

What is the meaning about WIllard's statement about what Kurtz really wants- to die like a soldier? Is Kurtz heroic in some ways? What about Willard?

Compare Moby Dick and Pips’s fall into the ocean and his bond with Ahab.

What does the film say?

Is the heart of darkness Africa (Viet Nam) because it terns people into “brutes” savages (the discussion about the inoculated children which Kurtz now understands).

Is the heart of darkness the natives?

Is the heart of darkness inside everyone just waiting to be released?

Film techniques

Film opening:

Visually apocalyptic – the world explodes in fire (napalming of forest)
Shift to Willard (seen upside down – the world is upside down)
Helicopter sounds, prop=>fam transition from war zone to city)

 Voice over:
In Saigon
Unable to cope after last tour
Unable to talk to wife except to agree to divorce
When in jungle wanted to be there; when there could only think of the jungle.
Still straddling both worlds but breaking away from civilian life for jungle fighting “ritualized” out of control martial arts which will “book end” the film as he performs it properly
drinking

ELS at beginning of film to establish place.

Camera movement with helicopters during attack

Does the film make you "wish you were there? If so is it all the time or some of the time? When?
Cross cutting of killing (sacrifice) of Kurtz with sacrificial killing of ox.

 War as insanity.

Behaviors: surfing during firefight
Dancing on boat.
Performance by Playboy girls (does anyone understand what is going on here?) Why do soldiers virtually attack the girls. Is everyone losing “civiliazation”

 Inability to win when fighting people who understand horror.
No place for compassion or kindness.

What role do the lines have in the film?