“Apocalypse Now”: “Heart of Darkness” in a Relevant Context

Marianna C. Ford

English 105

Professor Timmons

October 20, 2010

“Apocalypse Now”: “Heart of Darkness” in a Relevant Context

            Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 Hollywood movie Apocalypse Now Redux, a spin off of the nineteenth century novella Heart of Darkness written by Joseph Conrad, takes place in Vietnam during the Vietnam War as opposed to the novella’s setting in the African Congo.  By using a different context and time period for the setting of the movie Coppola gains a number of advantages in his production as opposed to using the original placement that the novella was written in. Since only four years had passed since the end of the Vietnam War the feelings of American’s towards the war were still fresh in audiences’ minds.  Coppola gains artistic recognition by using a different setting for his movie Apocalypse Now Redux because not only was the Vietnam War setting more relevant to viewers of this time period but also because Coppola is able to avoid the racial issues in the setting of Heart of Darkness.

            One attribute of a movie that is important in captivating an audience is having a component of the film that the viewers can relate to. Coppola’s decision to put the movie in the setting of the Vietnam War was a choice that would intrigue people to view his movie because the emotions and opinions on the war were still at the front of Americans’ mind. The connection between the Vietnam War setting and the ravaging for ivory in the Congo from Heart of Darkness both relate in the sense that it was a controversial event from the time in history. The Vietnam War had stirred up many rebellions in the United States for notion that it was inhumane and for the idea that it was not America’s war to fight. The majority of viewers disagreed with American’s work in the war therefore the highlights of cruelty in Vietnam in Apocalypse Now Redux gave spectators incentive to watch the production.

            Heart of Darkness is known for its creative writing style and better known by some for its racial inuendos which distract from its artistic writing. Because Coppola’s choice to set the movie in a more modern situation that did not touch on as many ethical questions of racism as Heart of Darkness did, he avoided the conflicts of such a sensitive subject. By choosing to use a setting that did not encounter racial issues Coppola’s movie gains recognition as a work of art because the focus does not get caught on racism but rather on the style and storyline of the movie.

            Coppola’s movie Apocalypse Now Redux follows the story line of Heart of Darkness but rather uses a different time and setting for the story to gain credibility with viewers.  Through using a less racially controversial situation and a setting in which the audience was greatly interested and still passionate about helped the movie to gain artistic recognition. Coppola’s choice of setting enabled him and his movie to avoid the racial accusations that have plagued Heart of Darkness.  While the movie was created in a different location it still captures the artistic essence for which the novella is renowned. Apocalypse Now Redux also relates to the audience of the time in which it was produced through a setting common to their generation that avoided the racial conflicts that Heart of Darkness did not hence gaining it credit as a work of art.