The Deer Hunter shows the lives of a group of friends in a small steel-mill town in Pennsylvania. Three of the six friends are going to Vietnam to fight in a war that they know nothing about. The first part of this film depicts the lives of six friends who enjoy a life free of stress, worry, and anxiety. The three men who are leaving to go to war are unaware of the changes that are in store for them when they get to Vietnam as well as when they get home from the war.
This “coming-home” film portrays the lives of the three men after they return from Vietnam; they all have a difficult time returning to a world that they once thought they knew. Mike has the most difficult time in adjusting to life back home; he is unable to attend his welcome home party because he is unable to face those he left behind. His reaction shows the main struggle of this film, the struggle of coming home to a changed life, while the soldier just wants the comforts of familiarity. Their lives become consumed by the images of war, as shown with Nick. He doesn’t return to the US as he keeps going after that rush that soldiers get from the war.
While the soldiers have returned to war, life is not the same. The hunting trip with all of the friends from before is not filled with the happy memories of the deer hunting trip prior to departure. Mike is unable to shoot the deer; he is unable to let himself go and shoot the deer. He is stuck in the war, and this prevents him and his friends from living.
With so many characters having issues with coming home from the war and with all of the scenes of the Americans in the war being portrayed as horrific times, it is clear that this is an anti-war film.
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The Deer Hunter shows the lives of a group of friends in a small steel-mill town in Pennsylvania. Three of the six friends are going to Vietnam to fight in a war that they know nothing about. The first part of this film depicts the lives of six friends who enjoy a life free of stress, worry, and anxiety. The three men who are leaving to go to war are unaware of the changes that are in store for them when they get to Vietnam as well as when they get home from the war.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of the film, life seems perfect. Steven marries his girlfriend, Angela, and they all seem to be enjoying life as they go drinking and hunting.
This “coming-home” film portrays the lives of the three men after they return from Vietnam; they all have a difficult time returning to a world that they once thought they knew. Mike has the most difficult time in adjusting to life back home; he is unable to attend his welcome home party because he is unable to face those he left behind. His reaction shows the main struggle of this film, the struggle of coming home to a changed life, while the soldier just wants the comforts of familiarity. Their lives become consumed by the images of war, as shown with Nick. He doesn’t return to the US as he stays in Vietnam. Nick is consumed by the need to have that rush that soldiers get from the war. He turns to drugs and alcohol and Russian roulette to get this rush. He shows the most apparent signs of PTSD. When Mike goes back to Saigon to see Nick, he is shocked and cannot believe the man that Nick has become. Nick does not even recognize Mike because of his troubles.
While the soldiers have returned to war, life is not the same. The hunting trip with all of the friends from before is not filled with the happy memories of the deer hunting trip prior to departure. Mike is unable to shoot the deer; he is unable to let himself go and shoot the deer. He is stuck in the war, and this prevents him and his friends from living.
The return from war does not only affect the friends who went to war, but also those at home. This is most apparent with Angela, Steven’s wife. Angela is mute when Steven comes home because war is and the affects of the war on her husband are things that she cannot control, yet her speech is something she can control. Just as the men are looking for control over their lives, those back at home are forced to change their lives as well. By not saying anything, Angela acts as though nothing happened; if she doesn’t speak of it, it didn’t happen. It is her denial of reality.
With so many characters having issues with coming home from the war and with all of the scenes of the Americans in the war being portrayed as horrific times, it is clear that this is an anti-war film.