Casualties of War
dir. Brian De Palma · 1989
The experience of being alive often involves grappling with moral dilemmas that challenge our humanity and force us to confront the consequences of our actions.
Feature
War Trauma
Mood
Dark
Look
gritty realism with stark contrasts and haunting imagery
Structure
linear progression with flashbacks and moral questioning
Plot
During the Vietnam War, a soldier finds himself the outsider of his own squad when they unnecessarily kidnap a female villager.
Why watch
"Casualties of War" immerses you in the moral complexities of warfare, showcasing the dark side of camaraderie through a gripping narrative that questions the essence of humanity. A haunting exploration of guilt set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, this film compels viewers to confront the unsettling realities of violence and complicity.
Cultural context
Vietnam War legacyanti-war sentiment of the 1980sportrayal of masculinity in conflictethical implications of military actions