What makes Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now an extremely influential anti-war movie? Coppola’s masterful use of contrast and absurdism. In between blaring gunshots and explosions, Captain Willard’s PTSD and Colonel Kilgore’s love for the smell of napalm, Kurtz's idealism, and the cabaret dance for soldiers right on the battlefield, Coppola brings us very near to the truth of violence, painting pictures of war deeply rooted in reality. In this article, let’s examine how Coppola uses contrast and absurdism to bring out the innate surrealism of war in Apocalypse Now against the backdrop of the Vietnam War.A Little About the Vietnam WarTo catch the real meaning of Apocalypse Now, it is important to know the basics about the Vietnam War, so here’s a quick history lesson.The Vietnam War lasted for over two decades, from 1955 to 1975. It took place shortly after World War II. The world was essentially split into two types of economic systems—capitalist and communist. During the Cold War, many countries in the East of the globe began to adopt communism, which capitalist countries in the West interpreted as a threat, especially after China adopted communism in 1949.After French rule in Vietnam ended around 1954, Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel by the Geneva Accords into North and South Vietnam. North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, a communist leader, sought to unify Vietnam under a communist government; however, South Vietnam, led by Ngo Dinh Diem, opposed communism. Invoking the domino theory, the U.S. extended diplomatic support...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today