Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now(1979) reframes its perspective on the Vietnam War as an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, largely restricted to the point of view of U.S. soldier Captain Willard.
Discussion Questions
After watching this clip from Apocalypse Now, consider the questions below. Then submit your response.
1. Analyze these opening images from Apocalypse Now: a jungle wall exploding into flames, helicopters moving across the image, an inverted close-up of Captain Willard who determines the narrative perspective. How does this sequence establish an important narrative perspective?
2. How does sound—the overlapping sound of helicopters and the room fan, the song "The End" by the Doors—contribute to this narrative perspective?