Film: The Deer Hunter
Director: Michael Cimino
Country: USA
Released: December 1978
Runtime: 184 minutes
Genre: War Film
Studio: EMI / Universal
Influenced: Terrence Malick, Brian De Palma, Oliver Stone, Darren Aronofsky, Spike Lee
Written by Deric Washburn and partially inspired by a screenplay called The Man Who Came to Play by Louis Garfinkle and Quinn K. Redeker, The Deer Hunter is arguably the greatest film about the psychological and emotional toll of the Vietnam War on working-class Americans. The story opens in a small Pennsylvania town and revolves around three steelworkers and close friends, Michael (Robert De Niro), Steven (John Savage) and Nick (Christopher Walken). The Deer Hunter also stars Meryl Streep (as Linda) and John Cazale (as Stan) in his last screen role before his death. The film is divided into a classic three-act structure: pre-war hometown life, the Vietnam War experience and the aftermath.
In Act 1, we witness the deep bond between the characters in their tightknit Slavic-American community, as exemplified in the wedding celebration of Steven and Angela (Rutanya Alda). The men spend their days working in the steel mill and their nights hunting deer in the nearby mountains. But this joyous world of camaraderie and carefree drinking is about to be disrupted. In Act 2, the friends enlist in the military and are sent to Vietnam. They find themselves caught up in the horrors of war and are captured by the Viet Cong. Forced to play Russian roulette for their captors' amusement, the three friends form an unbreakable bond and a desperate will to survive. Quite rightly, the film has faced some criticism for the lack of nuance and accuracy in its portrayal of the Vietnamese, but its power is undimmed.
Undoubtedly the film's most iconic and intense scene is that of the prisoners of war playing Russian roulette, underlining the psychological trauma of captivity. The iconic scene of Michael's "one shot" during Russian roulette symbolises his resourcefulness and survival instinct. Cimino makes clever use of light and shadow in these scenes, the stark contrast between the dimly lit room and the characters' faces emphasising the tension and danger they face. In the final act, we see the aftermath of the war. Michael returns home, haunted by his memories and determined to find Nick, who has disappeared. He discovers that Nick has been deeply affected by his war experience and has become a shell of his former self. Michael's quest to save his friend leads to a devastating confrontation.
The Deer Hunter was one of the first films to delve into the mental and emotional toll of war, exploring themes of post-traumatic stress disorder and survivor's guilt, while also highlighting the deep connections and friendships forged in extreme circumstances. It received instant critical acclaim upon its release and won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, and remains a poignant and haunting portrayal of the effect of war on individuals and communities. The recurring use of the film's main musical piece Cavatina by Stanley Myers adds to the emotional intensity, its gentle guitar melody evoking a sense of longing, sadness and nostalgia for a more innocent time.
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