Movie spotlight
Deserters
“I had many friends before the war; many of them are dead now”, one of the narrators comments, looking at a photo of her classmates. “We had a perfect life, but we were never satisfied,” she adds laconically. The secondary school in Mostar united them, the War of Independence divided them. This mosaic of memories of the early 1990s is composed of contemporary postcards and silent shots of places where wars were once fought. Their calmness today contrasts with the emotional excerpts from the letters of the Croatian students. They describe their flight across the border, their experiences in refugee camps, and their lingering hatred of the enemies who robbed them of their home and youth.
Insights
Plot Summary
Set during the Vietnam War, 'Deserters' follows a group of American soldiers who, disillusioned with the conflict, make the life-altering decision to desert their posts. Facing immense danger from both the enemy and their own military, they embark on a perilous journey through treacherous jungles, seeking a path to freedom and a chance to escape the horrors of war. The film explores the psychological toll of combat and the moral complexities of their choice.
Critical Reception
Critical reception for 'Deserters' has been mixed, with some reviewers praising its gritty realism and exploration of the psychological impact of war, while others found its narrative pacing and character development to be lacking. The film was noted for its attempts to portray a less-examined aspect of the Vietnam War experience.
What Reviewers Say
The film effectively captures the grim atmosphere of the Vietnam War.
Some critics found the story to be somewhat predictable.
Performances were generally noted as adequate for the material.
Google audience: Audience reviews for 'Deserters' are not widely available, making it difficult to summarize specific likes or dislikes.
Fun Fact
The film was shot on location in the Philippines, chosen for its visual similarity to the jungles of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War era.
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