Apocalypse Now

Apocalypse Now showed us that war has a detrimental effect on soldiers because it can negatively change a soldier’s psychology. For a good portion of the film, the viewers follow the journey of Captain Willard and a river patrol boat crew made up of Chief, Chef, Lance, and Clean up the Nung River. Captain Willard has been given a secret mission to kill rogue soldier Colonel Kurtz, a highly decorated US soldier who has betrayed his country and operates in the remote jungles deep inside Cambodia. From my perspective, I saw the men on a spiritual / mental journey as they made their way up the Nung River. As the soldiers ventured further from civilization, each of them had a mental breakdown of some sort, of which most profoundly were Captain Willard and Lance. Captain Willard becomes increasingly intrigued by Colonel Kurtz’s past, and, as a result, prioritized his mission over the safety of his crew. At one point in the film, Captain Willard grimly kills a wounded woman, so that his mission can continue without any further interruptions. Lance, on the other hand, came into the scene as a normal soldier, but by the end of the film, drastically changed into someone who has completely assimilated with nature. For example, he paints his face in camo and integrates himself with the indigenous people. Lance’s change in behavior reminded me of Mary Anne Bell from Tim O’Brien’s “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong.” Both were completely “innocent” prior to their time in Vietnam, both were curious about the land, and both allowed themselves to be completely immersed into the land. Both characters showed the viewers that war and complete isolation from civilization could bring about the loss of innocence and negatively affect one’s psychology.