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Self-Isolation: The Effects of War in Apocalypse Now
Director Francis Ford Coppola exemplifies the effects of war in his 1979 film Apocalypse Now, particularly self-isolation. Captain Willard (Martin Sheen), previously a soldier of war, physically and mentally isolates himself from a crowd of his fellow soldiers who enjoy entertainment from Playboy Playmates.
Willard is captured alone in low-key lighting at 1:07:09, bathed in darkness aside from a light that highlights the right side of his face and shoulder. He is pictured in a midshot and framed by the darkness, separating him from the crowd of soldiers located to his left. Willard is hunched over and angled away from the camera and crowd. The soldiers are displayed via mastershot in high-key lighting at 1:07:00. The crowd’s cheering overwhelms the shot until fading out, leaving Willard to narrate the end of the shot at 1:07:10: “His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rhatany.”
Beginning at 1:07:09, the shot creates a sense of isolation by elements of mise-en-scene, including lighting, character position and sound. Captain Willard’s right cheek and shoulder are brightly lit, emphasizing the bandage covering his cheek, and therefore, the physical scars left behind from war. Willard attempts to hide this, surrounding himself in a mass of black shadow that physically isolates Willard from the mass of soldiers positioned to his left. The shadow is overwhelming, though, closing in around Willard as an oppressive presence and draining energy from the shot. Willard isolates himself by angling his body away from the camera and the crowd, hunching over in a midshot and emphasizing his solemn body language.
In contrast to the soldiers in the previous mastershot, their full body language is displayed as they jump and jeer in response to the Playmates. They climb on stage and attempt to approach the young women. High-key lighting created by spotlights intensifies the energy in the shot. The comparison, between Willard and the other soldiers, suggests that Willard is previously scarred by his encounters with war while the others are newly drafted. Willard self-isolates while the others band together in an uncivilized celebration.
The overwhelming background noise, further oppressing Willard, fades out to allow his narration at 1:07:10: “His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rhatany.” This statement reflects Willard’s hyper fixated mindset, as he attempts to get into Walter E. Kurtz’s head. He constantly focuses on his classified mission instead of participating in group bonding activities. Willard’s refusal to participate further isolates him from his fellow soldiers.
Willard’s isolation comes as a result of his previous experiences as a soldier, as suggested by the opening of the film that dissolves between Willard and images of war. Combining the psychological and literal darkness that consumes Willard with hyperfixation foreshadows the insanity that Willard experiences due to war. At the end of the film, Willard follows in Kurtz’s footsteps and permanently isolates himself from society, becoming the elected leader to a tribe of Montagnards.
Work Cited
Apocalypse Now. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, performances by Martin Sheen and Marlon
Brando, Omni Zoetrope, 1979.
Professor Comments:
Erika, this is a very good analysis, and I like that you chose an unexpected shot for your focus. Above all, the shot emphasizes Willard as a sort of chosen one; he has a seriousness that isn’t reflected in many of the others. We assume that’s why he was selected for this role from the beginning. 50/50 A+