Blog 4

In the film Indochine, there are three sides that are portrayed. The first side being portrayed is the French, this can be seen through Elaine who shows how the French have had such an influence on the Vietnamese people. The second group being portrayed in the movie is the communist Vietnamese and the third group is the Nationalist Vietnamese.

Camille is the adopted daughter and is used to see the control of the French and the relationship they created with the Vietnamese people. Elaine is the mother figure to Camille, but also shows how the French came into Vietnam in a sense adopting it and instilling their values on the Vietnamese. This is shown through Camille when she goes to school and stands out due to her skin tone. It may be a good school, but it is a French school and Camille stands out. This reflects the relationship between the French and the Vietnamese; they came but did not fit well with the locals. In another seen, Elaine with one of her workers in the woods who is being beaten. This scene represents the power difference from when the French came into Vietnam. The French have the physical power over the Vietnamese, but also Elaine asks: do you think I want to beat my children? This shows how the French may have compassion, but they still use brute force over the Vietnamese.

Another relationship that represents the affiliation between the Vietnamese and the French is the relationship between Elaine and Jean-Baptiste. Jean-Baptiste is originally falling in love with Elaine, but as the movie continues it is clear that Jean turns his attention to Camile, Elaine’s adopted daughter. This shows the lose of power of the French in Vietnam. It is apparent that this film is taking the side of the Vietnamese in this movie.