The film Indochine begins in the 1930's when the French had a very strong colonial presence in Vietnam and ends at the Geneva conference when Vietnam is divided into the Communist North and the Nationalist South. The movie goes into great detail describing the relationships between the French, Nationalist Vietnamese and the Communist Vietnamese.
The relationship between the French and the Vietnamese is very similar to that of a parent to a child. This is shown when Elaine beats one of her servants and tells him "You think i like beating my children." Also, when the plantation was attacked by the Communist Vietnamese Elaine and her grandfather took charge and and calmed the Vietnamese down and showed them that they were safe to go back to work. This seemed very similar to when a parent consoles a child after they have had a nightmare and checks under the bed to show that there is no danger.
The French treated the Communists even worse then the Nationalist Vietnamese. They treated them like dogs and criminals. They rounded them up in groups and arrested them just for being Communists. When some tried to escape they were shot in the street. They also tortured the Communists for information and when they disobeyed orders. The Communists in turn attacked French outposts and tried to convert as many Nationalist Vietnamese to their cause as possible.
Tension was also very high between the Nationalist Vietnamese and the Communist Vietnamese. The Communists attacked and raided homes of the wealthy Mandarin Vietnamese especially those who sympathised with the French. In one scene Communist Vietnamese break into a Mandarin Vietnamese home and carry him out on a chair and burn him alive for consorting the the French.
The film definitely takes the side of the the Nationalist Vietnamese. It makes the French out to be cruel oppressive and lazy people who have the Vietnamese do all their work for them. It also mocks them especially the police inspectors. The film then portrays the Communist Vietnamese as ruthless to the French but compassionate to those willing to support them. For example, the Communists burn down part of the rubber plantation and assassinate the Mandarin elders at a party. However, when they see Camile and Jean-Baptiste in need they help them and provide them shelter and transport to safety. This movie was a very detailed description of what life was like back in colonized Vietnam.
The film Indochine begins in the 1930's when the French had a very strong colonial presence in Vietnam and ends at the Geneva conference when Vietnam is divided into the Communist North and the Nationalist South. The movie goes into great detail describing the relationships between the French, Nationalist Vietnamese and the Communist Vietnamese.
ReplyDeleteThe relationship between the French and the Vietnamese is very similar to that of a parent to a child. This is demonstrated when Elaine beats one of her servants and tells him "You think I like beating my children." Also, when the plantation was attacked by the Communist Vietnamese Elaine and her grandfather took charge and calmed the Vietnamese down and showed them that they were safe to go back to work. This seemed very similar to when a parent consoles a child after they have had a nightmare and checks under the bed to show that there is no danger.
The French treated the Communists even worse than the Nationalist Vietnamese. They treated them like dogs and criminals. They rounded them up in groups and arrested them just for being Communists. When some tried to escape they were shot in the street. They also tortured the Communists for information and when they disobeyed orders. The Communists in turn attacked French outposts and tried to convert as many Nationalist Vietnamese to their cause as possible.
Tension was also very high between the Nationalist Vietnamese and the Communist Vietnamese. The Communists attacked and raided homes of the wealthy Mandarin Vietnamese especially those who sympathized with the French. In one scene Communist Vietnamese break into a Mandarin Vietnamese home and carry him out on a chair and burn him alive for consorting the French.
The film definitely takes the side of the Nationalist Vietnamese. It makes the French out to be cruel oppressive and lazy people who have the Vietnamese do all their work for them. It also mocks them especially the police inspectors. The film then portrays the Communist Vietnamese as ruthless to the French but compassionate to those willing to support them. For example, the Communists burn down part of the rubber plantation and assassinate the Mandarin elders at a party. However, when they see Camille and Jean-Baptiste in need they help them and provide them shelter and transport to safety. In the movie Jean Baptiste seems to be a stand in for Ho Chi Mihn. He is at first trying to help British and French but he disagreed with the injustices and treatment of the Vietnamese. Like Ho Chi Mihn he tried to ask for help from the colonists but they ignored him so he had no choice but to turn to the communist Chinese for help and support. This movie was a very detailed description of what life was like back in colonized Vietnam.