Blog 4 PAB

The film Indochine depicts the conflicts between the French and Vietnamese during the French colonization in the 1930s. In the film, the French are in a superior role over the Vietnamese, and they desire their freedom. The Vietnamese nationalist spirit and desire to be free from the French has a parallel that can be found in the relationship between Camile and Jean-Baptist. Jean Baptist was Camile's mother's lover whom Camile falls in love with.
Eliane is the wealthy French rubber plantation owner who adopts the Vietnamese child named Camile. Eliane's and Camile's relationship symbolizes the relationship between their respective countries. Eliane's plans were to adopt Camile and then have her marry a man of Eliane's choosing (just as the French came to control Vietnam and intended to control them indefinitely). Just as Vietnam shook off the French's control, Camile ran from her engagement to marry a man she truly loved. Camile was set to marry another man, but eventually escaped from the engagement with Jean-Baptist (a French sailor).
Eventually Camile and Jean-Baptist have a child together. Since Jean-Baptist is French and Camile is Vietnamese, their child, Etienne, represents the fusion of cultures that was created (in South Vietnam) with the separation of north and south Vietnam. Also, the fact that Etienne was breast fed by many Vietnamese women supports this culture fusion idea.
On the rubber plantation, the French treat the Vietnamese workers terribly and in a manner that clearly displays the French dominance. As a worker is whipped, a comment is made about how the feeling of whipping a child. This comment is a symbol of the French treatment and attitudes toward the Vietnamese.
After viewing this film, it is difficult to say which side (Vietnamese or French) the filmmakers take. Both sides are showed in a positive and negative light about evenly.