This is a scene by scene analysis of 'Apocalypse Now: Redux'
Title 3 (23:02-31:14) (8:12) Stop at “Forgive us our trespasses”
Summary:
Willard goes over Kurtz’ dossier and right away he’s hooked. In ’64, Kurtz, worked with an advisory command in ‘Nam and returned his report to Washington. The President restricted his report. Also Kurtz signed up for paratroopers at 38 years of age. This was crazy; no one signs up to jump out of planes at that age!
Willard and his 4 man escort—Gunners-Mate nicknamed Mr. Clean, a 17 year old from? Chef, a machinist from New Orleans, Gunner’s-mate Lance Johnson, a famous surfer from LA, and Chief Phillips, the boat’s captain—rendezvous at an unspecified location with Colonel Kilgore, Commander of Air Cavalry, 1st of the 9th. Air Calvary are mopping up an unsuccessful skirmish with the VietCong and evacuating refugees to South Vietnam.
My viewpoint:
Right away, you see the disconnection from reality as soldiers entering the theater are met by a movie crew with the director shouting instructions to not look in the camera. Then, from this scene we are introduced to Colonel Kilgore who embodies both detachment from reality and complete insanity with his obsession with surfing and Lance Johnson who happens to be a surfing legend and his idol. Kilgore is a metaphor for Western society which is overstimulated and has lost the ability to connect with the world around him.
Also, in this scene is hypocrisy as a priest and some soldiers recite the lord’s prayer (killing in the name of God) This is a metaphor of White colonialism using God and the bible to justify killing others. This metaphor is born out at the end of the film when we finally see Kurtz. The native people he rules have painted their skin white to look like him.
Summary:
Willard goes over Kurtz’ dossier and right away he’s hooked. In ’64, Kurtz, worked with an advisory command in ‘Nam and returned his report to Washington. The President restricted his report. Also Kurtz signed up for paratroopers at 38 years of age. This was crazy; no one signs up to jump out of planes at that age!
Willard and his 4 man escort—Gunners-Mate nicknamed Mr. Clean, a 17 year old from? Chef, a machinist from New Orleans, Gunner’s-mate Lance Johnson, a famous surfer from LA, and Chief Phillips, the boat’s captain—rendezvous at an unspecified location with Colonel Kilgore, Commander of Air Cavalry, 1st of the 9th. Air Calvary are mopping up an unsuccessful skirmish with the VietCong and evacuating refugees to South Vietnam.
My viewpoint:
Right away, you see the disconnection from reality as soldiers entering the theater are met by a movie crew with the director shouting instructions to not look in the camera. Then, from this scene we are introduced to Colonel Kilgore who embodies both detachment from reality and complete insanity with his obsession with surfing and Lance Johnson who happens to be a surfing legend and his idol. Kilgore is a metaphor for Western society which is overstimulated and has lost the ability to connect with the world around him.
Also, in this scene is hypocrisy as a priest and some soldiers recite the lord’s prayer (killing in the name of God) This is a metaphor of White colonialism using God and the bible to justify killing others. This metaphor is born out at the end of the film when we finally see Kurtz. The native people he rules have painted their skin white to look like him.
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