The Last Battle in Vietnam - Essay Example

Client inserts his/her name Tutor’s name Name of institutions Course title Date of submission Basic information Title: VIETNAM: The last battle Year of production: 1995 Writer: John Pilger Director and producer: David Munro Starring: John Pilger Studio: Carlton Television Language: English Running time: 51 minutes Synopsis The film begins on the 20th anniversary of the end of the conflict between Vietnam and the United States. The setting is at the roof of the U.S. embassy where the very last troops had left by a helicopter. A war veteran, Robert Muller is presented as an individual who talks about his own views and calls the war a lie. A mature woman who had lost a husband during the war as well as five children who were fighting the French and Americans is shown as an icon of the stiff struggle for liberation of the country. Pham, a coal miner illustrates colossal America bombing which is meant to indicate the intensity of the war and the amount of destruction out of it. The film further highlights the final face of the war where the U.S embassy was evacuated and later the arrival of Viet Cong which brought a close to the war. Pilger further shows how the U.S Restriction used its influence to interfere with bank loans making the country to remain with a single option to turn to, that is, the Soviet Union. With the end of the war, the Vietnamese people came back especially the fishermen who had fled the country for their safety. The writer identifies and appreciates the significance of the liberalizing policy brought by Doi Moi although it is still not good enough for the country’s economy. Worse still, he outlines how the market socialist had abolished cooperatives that led to availability of cheap labor from the population useful in the international arena. The operational Hages led to extreme deforestation and birth defects due to the spraying of dioxin. Finally Pilger notes that despite the high exploitation and mistreatment techniques used on Vietnam, the nation has been able to establish development strategies after the war. Critical Review of the film In Relation To the Vietnam War and Its Impacts The film ‘The Last Battle’ is really magnificent and aggravating. It precisely explores the state of struggle for independence by an unexpected nation. It further presents the rot within capitalism, western imperialism and tyrannical ventures which left a multitude of people dead, wounded and others displaced. This piece of art portrays an individual who has strong critic attributes in regards to the foreign western policy applied in Vietnam. He is very much against its aspects which he has seen as being guided by an imperialist and tyrannical agenda. (Soames 2005) According to (Anderson 2004)), the most dehumanizing aspect of the U.S military as expounded in the movie is the use of chemical defoliants which affected large areas of the country. The impact of the chemicals can be felt to date in regards to the changes in the landscape, causing diseases, creating defects in births and even poisoning the food chain. It is unbelievable how herbicides were spread over food crops to make them harmful for human consumptions. It was also meant to drive the citizens to a place they thought was safer although to the army it was a controlled area where they could be killed and tortured easily. This indicates that their intention was to clear up all living and non-living things in the country and make it completely bare. It is very disheartening in that the author creates a resentful mood and attitude towards the pioneers of the entire war. Truly, war is evil and can wipe out a nation completely. The impacts of the war thus were meant to be felt for a lifetime. It is painful to learn how citizens were killed massively while others were left with scars and permanent disabilities (Kueter 2007). Economically, the nation was massively affected causing significant damage on the Vietnamese economy. This is well established through the restrictions created by the influential U.S government as illustrated by Pilger. Rather, the congress cut off any financial aid channeled to South Vietnam. This really affected the country’s economic status during this time and the only solace for aid came from the Soviet Union. Besides, the energetic people who could revive the economy of the country had been exiled while others were killed in the war. Vietnam was meant to remain shattered forever as presented by the dehumanizing operations of the U.S fighters. (Soames 2005) In addition, the writer observes the position of the larger proportion of the population in Vietnam. The U.S applied dictatorial rule characterized by abolishment of any productive cooperative that could make the citizens to realize their potentials. This made many of them to remain a good source of cheap labor for international industries and other sectors of the economy that needed substantial labor. (Anderson 2004). Although the writer explores the impacts of the war especially on the Vietnam citizens, he overlooks the fact that the Vietnamese in the army experienced two aspects as a result of the war. Some gained tactics in war operations while others obtained wounds and never-ending traumas as argued by (Kueter 2007). It left a war legacy which has unique features in history. It indicates the political, social and cultural factors that those in the military go through without their consent. In my own point of view, to the entire country, the army may be significant in carrying operations in the impending wars because they have gained invaluable skill (Soames 2005). For instance, they understand ways of analyzing the nature and intensity of any conflict, analyzing the fighting strategies employed by the enemy and also getting enough information in regards to the nature of allies. This is the only good thing that may come out of a bitter war such as that in Vietnam. (Kueter 2007) According to Anderson David (2004), the worse aspect of it all is that the economic sanctions, the massive killings and all the inhuman tyrannical operations were not covered and reported in a media house. This indicates how the society is rotting in political dictatorship which denies even the press its freedom and independence. The people presented wished that the whole world could know what their fellow human beings are going through, but that opportunity was impossible to be granted. According to Noam Chomsky (2005), “John Pilger's work has been a beacon of light in often dark times. The realities he has brought to light have been a revelation, over and over again, and his courage and insight a constant inspiration.” Despite the intensity of war, the film writer restores hope to the resigned multitude by stating the fact that the war finally came to an end. The U.S troops vacated their base creating a mood of peace in the entire country. At least the refugees in exile could come back home to rebuild their nation. The fishermen who had run away are returning to the country. There is hope for a better Vietnam without war. The main challenge however is the economic condition which was greatly crushed during the war. Although the Soviet Union is playing a central role in the reconstruction of Vietnam, the destructive chemicals applied during the war may make it tougher. The best thing is that the nation has taken the right path by focusing on making things better rather than staying absorbed in the happenings of the war. The writer shows that the nation has established development strategies that will lead to advancement in the economy despite the intensity of the war results. This work of art should remain as an inspiration to the citizens as they work towards rebuilding their nation. It brings light in the times when the country was at the most critical state. People should bury the hatchet and seek their nation’s reconstruction. Peace should remain paramount. Conclusion It is good and it satisfies one to die fighting for his country rather than allowing people to intrude your territory and deny you your freedom. It is admirable how the people of Vietnam fought for their liberation and independence despite the many challenges involved. It is clear that some have paid for their own freedom through their lives. The elderly lady in the movie has lost an entire family, a husband and children, in the war. It takes great sacrifices to serve one’s country adequately. It is also noticeable that a nation should have adequate resources before engaging in a war with an enemy since the allies who intervene during crisis may not be adequate. The surprise chemical attack by the US troops was the worst attack that Vietnam experienced. The nation was paralyzed because it did not have enough resources that could facilitate a counterattack (Kueter 2007). The comprehensiveness and authority used in presenting the film’s subject matter is really splendid. Through the comprehensive outline of experiences faced by civilians and soldiers in the Vietnam War, acting them out gives the entire piece of art a touch of reality. The kind of diction employed creates an effective tone, mood and attitude of the film. Pilger’s work is really inscrutable. It creates an evocative feeling and an eerie mood associated with the theme he is dealing with. All in all, from a literary perspective, he has done excellent work and his creativity surpasses that of numerous writers in the scene today. References Noam Chomsky: Chomsky Answers Guardian, 13 November 2005. Retrieved 22 March, 2012. Soames, John. 2005. A History of the World, Routledge. Kueter, Dale. 2007. Vietnam Sons: For Some, the War Never Ended. Anderson, David. 2004. Columbia Guide to the Vietnam War. Read More