In each
returning vet films they focus on the soldiers who individually suffer from
post dramatic stress disorder, either being physically wounded or emotional
traumatized. Each film focuses on soldiers returning and coping in society. But
there are many differences between both films; being two totally different
wars, one was won when the other was lost, the cultural change in the US, when
the US government was being questioned and was acceptable to question authority
and the public view differences between World War 2 and Vietnam.
In Best Years
Of Our Lives and Born On The Fourth Of July both film focus on returning vets
with a physical or emotional trauma and focuses on getting back into society. The
wars veteran’s wounds are both physical and emotional. He is seasoned by hard
experience and wary of new experience. The war veteran’s fighting spirit,
however, is not necessarily diminished, although his determination to survive
might be compromised and society may receive him rudely upon his return. In Born
On The Fourth Of July when Ron returns home he is seen as upbeat and proud for
taking part in the Vietnam war when his family and neighbours are awkward and
embarrassed on his return home. However his proud family is short lived when
Ron’s brother doesn’t believe in the war and represents the growing society of
questioning the government why they are in Vietnam. During Independence Day
parade when Ron is encountered by protestors and is seen as a “Baby Killer”.
Best Years of
Our Lives shares a similar view in the post dramatic stress disorder with the
three protagonists. However the outcome of the War was very different. Each
narrative element in each movie closely presents and discourses of veteran’s
problem in both abled and disabled veterans who now has to readjust to their
new state of body or mind. Each three returning veterans have to adjust to
society with different elements to post dramatic stress disorder. Homer who
lost both his hands has to adjust go to his disability and accept the love of
the sweet heart next door, Al who creates a habit of drinking and struggles to
sleep with having anger problem and Fred who suffers from a recurrent nightmare
in war with his acquisitive wife and no decent job.
Although both
films show their protagonist having post dramatic stress disorder the cultural
and the view on the war in both films are very different. When Fred returns
home his wife is always seen pushing him to wear his uniform showing him off to
friends and the public. In Born on the Fourth of July wearing the uniform
during the Vietnam conflict was seen very controversial. Unlike in World War 2
when the US was fighting the Nazi’s and the Empire Of Japan the US soldiers
always found themselves rounding up villagers, farmers and people who were
never a threat. There was never a clear enemy for the soldiers and found
themselves fighting a guerrilla warfare. “On the one hand, the veteran’s
heroism and sacrifices are celebrated and memorialized and debts of gratitude,
both symbolic and material, are paid to him. On the other hand the veteran also
inspires anxiety and fear and is seen as a threat to social order and political
stability” (Gerber 1994:546) this quote by Gerber is a great example of
separating both films through different hands; the first hand representing Best
Years of our Lives and the other hand representing Born on the Fourth of July.
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