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Small, Apocalypse Now
, directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, is a 1979 American epic psychological war film. The screenplay, co-written by Coppola and John Milius, draws inspiration from Joseph Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness, relocating the setting to the Vietnam War.
Plot Summary
The film centers on U.S. Army Captain Benjamin L. Willard, portrayed by Martin Sheen, who is tasked with a clandestine mission to travel upriver into Cambodia. His objective is to assassinate Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando), a highly decorated Special Forces officer who has reportedly gone rogue and become unhinged. The mission's directive is to "terminate [Kurtz] with extreme prejudice". Willard's journey serves as a descent into the psychological turmoil and anarchy of war, during which he observes the moral decay of those around him and confronts Kurtz's own madness. The film delves into themes of morality, humanity, and the psychological toll of conflict.
Production
Produced by Coppola's American Zoetrope, the film's production was notoriously challenging and protracted, facing issues such as typhoons, budget overruns, and health problems among the cast and crew. The documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse details these difficulties. |
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