Tigerland

TigerlandTigerland

The American War MovieThe American War Movie► Films using war as their Films using war as their

subject have been around subject have been around almost since the beginning almost since the beginning of the medium (e.g. D W of the medium (e.g. D W Griffith’s Griffith’s Birth of a NationBirth of a Nation 1915), but since the 1960s 1915), but since the 1960s there has developed a sub-there has developed a sub-genre of the Vietnam war genre of the Vietnam war film focussing on film focussing on psychopathic warriors, psychopathic warriors, incompetent commanders, incompetent commanders, conspiracy and soulless conspiracy and soulless anti-heroism; with action anti-heroism; with action fuelled more by drugs and fuelled more by drugs and rock ’n’ roll than adrenalin rock ’n’ roll than adrenalin (e.g. Michael Cimino’s (e.g. Michael Cimino’s The The Deer Hunter Deer Hunter 1978; Francis 1978; Francis Ford Coppola’s Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Apocalypse NowNow 1979) 1979)

► What features of What features of TigerlandTigerland conform to a ‘Hollywood conform to a ‘Hollywood Vietnam’ genre?Vietnam’ genre?

Boot campBoot camp

► ‘‘Basic training’ can be seen as a sub-genre of the Basic training’ can be seen as a sub-genre of the war film and has been used as much for army war film and has been used as much for army recruitment propaganda (satirised by Bill Murray recruitment propaganda (satirised by Bill Murray in the 1982 comedy in the 1982 comedy StripesStripes) as anti-war protest. ) as anti-war protest.

► As an examination of how men are dehumanised As an examination of how men are dehumanised in order to be taught to kill, the most powerful in order to be taught to kill, the most powerful examples are in Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war examples are in Erich Maria Remarque’s anti-war novel novel All Quiet on the Western FrontAll Quiet on the Western Front and Stanley and Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war (Vietnam) film Kubrick’s anti-war (Vietnam) film Full-Metal Full-Metal JacketJacket..

►To what extent does To what extent does TigerlandTigerland ending ending before the new soldiers even reach before the new soldiers even reach Vietnam make it less of a war movie?Vietnam make it less of a war movie?

HeroesHeroes► In what ways does the film construct the In what ways does the film construct the

character of Roland Bozz as a hero?character of Roland Bozz as a hero?

Johnny Got His GunJohnny Got His GunThe novel Bozz is reading – about a The novel Bozz is reading – about a young man initiated into the horror young man initiated into the horror of war in the trenches of WW1 – of war in the trenches of WW1 – was originally written in 1948 as a was originally written in 1948 as a protest against WW2 by Dalton protest against WW2 by Dalton Trumbo (novelist, screenwriter of Trumbo (novelist, screenwriter of classic films like classic films like SpartacusSpartacus,, & & victim of US anti-communist fears victim of US anti-communist fears in the 1950s). However, having in the 1950s). However, having reached in America the cult status reached in America the cult status of anti-war novels like Erich Maria of anti-war novels like Erich Maria Remarque’s Remarque’s All Quiet on the All Quiet on the Western FrontWestern Front, it was republished , it was republished in 1970 – a year before in 1970 – a year before Tigerland Tigerland is is set – as part of the enormous wave set – as part of the enormous wave of popular protest against the of popular protest against the Vietnam war (viz. riots, draft Vietnam war (viz. riots, draft dodging, the musical dodging, the musical HairHair, the , the movie movie M*A*S*HM*A*S*H, etc.)., etc.).

► What does Roland Bozz’s What does Roland Bozz’s choice of reading matter choice of reading matter suggest about his character?suggest about his character?

My LaiMy Lai

►What signs are What signs are there in the film there in the film that Tigerland’s that Tigerland’s training could training could very easily very easily produce produce another ‘My Lai’ another ‘My Lai’ massacre?massacre?