The film Indochine begins in the 1930s, a time when the French had a strong presence in Indonesia. Within the film we see three separate, conflicting groups; the French, the communist Vietnamese and the nationalist Vietnamese. Indochine overall is depicted as in favor of the Vietnamese, more particularly the Nationalist Vietnamese. This is portrayed most directly through the virtue and stability of the specific characters representing each party.
Elaine represents the French and the power they have over the Vietnamese. When she is in the woods and one of her workers is being beaten, she looks at him and asks “Do you think I want to beat my children?” This statement expresses control in two different extremes. Elaine has the control of an employer and a dictator in that it is her demands which become fulfilled, including the beating of runaway workers. Elaine also has control in the way of motherhood. She acts to these workers as a mother acts to her children, she has compassion for them but she also must take command. Her character shows the movie’s main idea that the French have forced themselves in control of the Vietnamese. When she is dancing with her adopted daughter Camile, there is a sense of control and restraint seen in the tightness of their dancing. Camile is notably different from all others in the room, it is apparent that she is being showcased in a culture which is not hers.
Not only is it apparent that the French are inflicting their culture upon the Vietnamese, but it is also suggested that the French are ruining the Vietnamese. Camile represents the typical, Vietnam-cultured teenager. She is walking the streets with her friend, and a French policeman shoots a runaway prisoner. The man falls onto Camile, splattering her in blood. The bloodshed, caused by the French, spoils Camile’s crisp white Vietnamese attire, arguably symbolic of a infected culture.
Jean-Baptiste, a French naval officer, and his son Etienne are also symbolic of the interactions between Vietnam and France. In the beginning of the movie we met Jean-Baptiste, who originally is attracted to Elaine, the French women. Throughout the movie though, he shifts and instead falls in love with Elaine’s adopted daughter Camile. This switch represents the larger switch of French power. Camile represents the repressed Vietnamese while Elaine is the overbearing French commander. This switch shows the increase of power that the Vietnamese gain. Camile and Jean have a child, Etienne. Etienne represents a clash of the two cultures, as he is both Vietnamese and French. He shows the merging of the two cultures.
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The film Indochine begins in the 1930s, a time when the French had a strong presence in Indonesia. Within the film we see three separate, conflicting groups; the French, the communist Vietnamese and the nationalist Vietnamese. Indochine overall is depicted as in favor of the Vietnamese, more particularly the Nationalist Vietnamese. This is portrayed most directly through the level of virtue and stability of the specific characters representing each party.
ReplyDeleteElaine represents the French and the power they have over the Vietnamese. When she is in the woods and one of her workers is being beaten, she looks at him and asks “Do you think I want to beat my children?” This statement expresses control in two different extremes. First, Elaine has the control of an employer and a dictator in that all of her demands are taken care of, including the beating of runaway workers. Second, Elaine also has control in the way of motherhood. She acts to these workers as a mother acts to her children, she has compassion for them but she also must take command. Her character shows the movie’s main idea that the French have forced themselves in control of the Vietnamese. When she is dancing with her adopted daughter Camile, there is a tense atmosphere of control and restraint seen in the tightness of their dancing. Camile is notably different from all others in the room, it is apparent that she is being showcased in a culture which is not hers.
Not only is it apparent that the French are inflicting their culture upon the Vietnamese, but it is also suggested that the French are ruining the Vietnamese culture. Camile represents the typical, Vietnam-cultured teenager. She is walking the streets with her friend, and a French policeman shoots a runaway prisoner. The man falls onto Camile, splattering her in blood. The bloodshed, caused by the French, spoils Camile’s crisp white Vietnamese attire, arguably symbolic of a infected culture.
Jean-Baptiste, a French naval officer, and his son Etienne are also symbolic of the interactions between Vietnam and France. In the beginning of the movie we met Jean-Baptiste, who originally is attracted to Elaine, the French women. Throughout the movie though, he shifts and instead falls in love with Elaine’s adopted daughter Camile. This switch represents the larger switch of French power. Camile represents the repressed Vietnamese while Elaine is the overbearing French commander. This switch shows the increase of power that the Vietnamese gain. Camile and Jean have a child, Etienne. Etienne represents a clash of the two cultures, as he is both Vietnamese and French. He shows the merging of the two cultures.