"The Quiet American"-Phillip Noyce-2002
Graham Greene is one of the major novelists of the 20th century. This is the second screen version of this novel. The first starred Michael Redgrave and Audie Murphy. Don't bother to look for this version. The novel came out in 1955; the film in 1958. Interestingly, both versions were shot on location in Viet Nam. The film is set in 1951 and 1952. I promise not to go total nerd, but perhaps a little background will prove valuable. The Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh had begun a conflict against the Japanese occupiers. The French returned after WWII. Now the conflict was between the French and the Viet Minh. We are at the beginning of the Cold War. The Communist push had taken over in Eastern Europe, but the Marshall Plan and NATO had stopped the advance into Western Europe. The end of WWII marked the beginning of the end of colonialism. India became independent in 1947; that required partition into two countries, India and Pakistan. There were ethnic and religious divisions in the French colonies in South East Asia. Three separate nations, Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam emerged. Viet Nam like Korea was divided politically rather than ethnically. Both Viet Nam and Korea had substantial Christian populations.
Korea had been historically subordinate to China and or Japan. Viet Nam was in China's sphere of influence. China intervened in the Korean War. There was a fear among Western countries that this was the beginning of a major Communist push in Asia. The United Nations stepped in on the side of South Korea. Meanwhile the French were struggling to hold the Viet Minh at bay. The United States was looking for a way to establish a native non-Communist regime in Viet Nam. Early on in the film a veteran expatriate British journalist, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is discussing Viet Nam with a recent American arrival, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser). Pyle believes that the Vietnamese should be free, they should have the liberty to choose their leader. Fowler replies that the Vietnamese would choose Ho Chi Minh.
The film opens with the murder of Pyle. Fowler is both narrator and protagonist. Pryle is a second protagonist, In addition to their political disagreements; they are in conflict over their love for Phuong (Tin Hai Yen Do). She and Fowler have been together for two years. Fowler is married to a Catholic in England who won't give him a divorce. The political and romantic conflicts are intertwined.
This is beautifully filmed on location. The characters are complex and well acted. This justly considered one of Caine's best performances. The young actress portraying Phuong has a difficult role. Her beauty gets her onstage as a credible love interest of two men. She is trapped; when her father (a university professor) died; she and her sister had to make their way in the world. The situation in Saigon is dangerous. What will happen to her if the Viet Minh come to power? Does she love either of these men? My intuition is that she loves fellows, but Pyle is her better ticket out. Fellows is no bargain he has sent out only three stories to his paper in the past year. He smokes
opium. He relies on his assistant, Hinh (Tzi Ma) for contacts and info. He doesn't want to return to England so he takes a risky trip to the front line. Brendan Fraser is more than credible in his role. The major glitch is the responsibility of Greene. He is supposed to be a very recent Harvard graduate attached to the US medical program. Late in the film it turns out that he is actually a CIA agent who not only speaks fluent Vietnamese, but is running a secret aide program to a rogue Vietnamese general. Whatever you think of the CIA; they wouldn't put an inexperienced agent running such an important program. Fellows should see through the cover. He knows that his assistant is in with the Viet Minh.
Very highly recommended. This film is a massage for the brain cells, but still is compelling viewing.
Graham Greene is one of the major novelists of the 20th century. This is the second screen version of this novel. The first starred Michael Redgrave and Audie Murphy. Don't bother to look for this version. The novel came out in 1955; the film in 1958. Interestingly, both versions were shot on location in Viet Nam. The film is set in 1951 and 1952. I promise not to go total nerd, but perhaps a little background will prove valuable. The Viet Minh under Ho Chi Minh had begun a conflict against the Japanese occupiers. The French returned after WWII. Now the conflict was between the French and the Viet Minh. We are at the beginning of the Cold War. The Communist push had taken over in Eastern Europe, but the Marshall Plan and NATO had stopped the advance into Western Europe. The end of WWII marked the beginning of the end of colonialism. India became independent in 1947; that required partition into two countries, India and Pakistan. There were ethnic and religious divisions in the French colonies in South East Asia. Three separate nations, Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam emerged. Viet Nam like Korea was divided politically rather than ethnically. Both Viet Nam and Korea had substantial Christian populations.
Korea had been historically subordinate to China and or Japan. Viet Nam was in China's sphere of influence. China intervened in the Korean War. There was a fear among Western countries that this was the beginning of a major Communist push in Asia. The United Nations stepped in on the side of South Korea. Meanwhile the French were struggling to hold the Viet Minh at bay. The United States was looking for a way to establish a native non-Communist regime in Viet Nam. Early on in the film a veteran expatriate British journalist, Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is discussing Viet Nam with a recent American arrival, Alden Pyle (Brendan Fraser). Pyle believes that the Vietnamese should be free, they should have the liberty to choose their leader. Fowler replies that the Vietnamese would choose Ho Chi Minh.
The film opens with the murder of Pyle. Fowler is both narrator and protagonist. Pryle is a second protagonist, In addition to their political disagreements; they are in conflict over their love for Phuong (Tin Hai Yen Do). She and Fowler have been together for two years. Fowler is married to a Catholic in England who won't give him a divorce. The political and romantic conflicts are intertwined.
This is beautifully filmed on location. The characters are complex and well acted. This justly considered one of Caine's best performances. The young actress portraying Phuong has a difficult role. Her beauty gets her onstage as a credible love interest of two men. She is trapped; when her father (a university professor) died; she and her sister had to make their way in the world. The situation in Saigon is dangerous. What will happen to her if the Viet Minh come to power? Does she love either of these men? My intuition is that she loves fellows, but Pyle is her better ticket out. Fellows is no bargain he has sent out only three stories to his paper in the past year. He smokes
opium. He relies on his assistant, Hinh (Tzi Ma) for contacts and info. He doesn't want to return to England so he takes a risky trip to the front line. Brendan Fraser is more than credible in his role. The major glitch is the responsibility of Greene. He is supposed to be a very recent Harvard graduate attached to the US medical program. Late in the film it turns out that he is actually a CIA agent who not only speaks fluent Vietnamese, but is running a secret aide program to a rogue Vietnamese general. Whatever you think of the CIA; they wouldn't put an inexperienced agent running such an important program. Fellows should see through the cover. He knows that his assistant is in with the Viet Minh.
Very highly recommended. This film is a massage for the brain cells, but still is compelling viewing.
