The movie Indochine was set in the 1930s in the colonial French Indochina. The story portrays the life of a wealthy rubber plantation owner Eliane Devries, and her adopted Vietnamese daughter Camille. Since her early childhood, Camille was betrothed to a Vietnamese man, Tanh, but she is in love with a French Naval Officer, Jean-Baptiste. In her daughter’s best interest Eliane has Jean-Baptiste transferred to a different station, but Camille ends up following him there. The two end up having a child together, Etienne. Later, while Jean-Baptiste takes Etienne out he is arrest by French officials, but Camille escapes with the travelling troupe. Jean-Baptiste is allowed to see his son, who is now in the custody of Eliane, but when Elaine returns she finds that Jean-Baptiste has been shot. Many think that the shooting was carried out by Communists in order to keep him quiet.
Throughout the entire movie there are two sides that can be seen- the Vietnamese Communists and the French. Camille, although of Vietnamese origin, is raised and instilled with French values because she was adopted by Eliane Devries. However, while travelling through Indochina to find Jean-Baptiste, Camille comes into contact with many Vietnamese people in the country, and transforms into an advocate for Communism. This shows how, even though Camille was raised in a certain way, she has learned from others and is able to make her own decisions on what to fight for.
Along with this, Eliane and Camille parallel the historical happenings that are occurring. Eliane could be seen as the French “motherland” and Camille could be seen as the Vietnamese people. The French are trying to keep their people from uprising, but the people of Indochina have other ideas. Camille ends up defying her adopted mother, just as the Vietnamese defy the French. In the end Indochina ends up becoming independent of French occupation and is split into North and South Vietnam, and Camille ends up splitting from her family to follow the Communist party.
The film takes the side of the Vietnamese people depicting their struggle from French occupation. However, it is evident there is a prevalent French culture that exists. Even on the cover of the movie Eliane is pictured above the Vietnamese people in a red dress and over sized hat. Red is often seen as a power color, and this could be another symbol of the French trying to convey that they are better than the Vietnamese.
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The movie Indochine was set in the 1930s in the colonial French Indochina. The story portrays the life of a wealthy rubber plantation owner Eliane Devries, and her adopted Vietnamese daughter Camille. Since her early childhood, Camille was betrothed to a Vietnamese man, Tanh, but falls in love with a French Naval Officer, Jean-Baptiste. In her daughter’s best interest Eliane has Jean-Baptiste transferred to a different station, but Camille ends up following him there. The two end up having a child together, Etienne. Later, while Jean-Baptiste takes Etienne out he is arrest by French officials, but Camille escapes with the travelling troupe. Jean-Baptiste is allowed to see his son, who is now in the custody of Eliane, but when Elaine returns she finds that Jean-Baptiste has been shot. Many think that the shooting was carried out by Communists in order to keep him quiet.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the entire movie there are two sides that can be seen- the Vietnamese Communists and the French. Camille, although of Vietnamese origin, is raised and instilled with French values because she was adopted by Eliane Devries. However, while travelling through Indochina to find Jean-Baptiste, Camille comes into contact with many Vietnamese people in the country, and transforms into an advocate for Communism. However, at the beginning of the movie there is a scene in which the Vietnamese workers are beaten. This shows the power that the French had over Vietnamese, and the colonialism that was taking place.
Along with this, Eliane and Camille parallel the historical happenings that are occurring. Eliane could be seen as the French “motherland” and Camille could be seen as the Vietnamese people. The French are trying to keep their people from uprising, but the people of Indochina have other ideas. Camille ends up defying her adopted mother, just as the Vietnamese defy the French. In the end Indochina ends up becoming independent of French occupation and is split into North and South Vietnam.
The film takes the side of the Vietnamese people depicting their struggle from French occupation. This can be seen when the Vietnamese farm hands are beat which shows the cruelty of the French, but it can also be seen in the character of Tanh. Tanh when to school France, but was expelled for demonstrating Communist practices; however, he used this school to fight the powers of the French. In the film it is evident there is a prevalent French culture that exists. Even on the cover of the movie Eliane is pictured above the Vietnamese people in a red dress and over sized hat. Red is often seen as a power color, and this could be another symbol of the French trying to convey that they are better than the Vietnamese.