Film Review: The Quiet American (2002)

Graham Greene, prolific British author known for novels set in exotic locations during “interesting” times, had its work serve as basis for some of the best or the most important films of 20th Century. On occasions, however, he was quite unhappy with the way his work was adapted to the big screen. Probably the most frustrating of such examples was his 1955 novel The Quiet American, work which, in light of latter event, became quite prophetic and showed that US meddling into affairs of various Third World countries wasn’t always the best idea. The novel was in 1958, however, adapted into eponymous Hollywood film, which, due to demands of Cold War propaganda, turned novel’s basic premise and message on its head. Decades later, after Cold War had been over, time looked more favourable for truly faithful adaptation. It came in the form of 2002 film directed by Philip Noyce, which, ironically, suffered at the box office due to historical circumstances that made the novel’s message inconvenient again.

The plot takes place in 1952 Saigon, at a time when Vietnam is formally still part of the French colonial empire. However, French grip on the country is weakening, because they are unable to stop guerrillas of Vietminh, liberation movement under the domination of Ho Chi Minh's communists. Thomas Fowler (Michael Caine) is a London Times reporter who is supposed to cover the conflict. Fowler eventually decided to sit tight in Sajgon and showed ultimate disinterest for his job and, instead, spends all his time and money on opium and sex, which is provided to him by his young mistress and former dancer Phuong (To Thi Hai Yen). Fowler's idyllic life will stop with the arrival Alden Pyle (Fraser), young, ambitious and idealistic official of US humanitarian mission who doesn’t hide his deep conviction that only United States can rescue Vietnamese from dangers of Communism. Fowler couldn’t care less about Pyle, but not when accidental encounter between Pylea and Phuong creates romantic triangle. Fowler becomes intrigued with his romantic rival and slowly realises his real job, as well as plans to create Vietnamese “democratic” alternative to Communists, which is the aim Pyle would pursue with all means, including bloodbath.

2002 version of The Quiet American is one of the more unusual Hollywood films dealing with Vietnam War. Not only it was the first US production being actually made in Vietnam, but also one of the rare which deals its “prequel”, First Indochina War during which the French had the same humiliating experience with local Communists the Americans would have two decades later. But the struggle between world power and liberation movement comes second to the struggle between two approaches to world affair. The first one is realistic, embodied in cynical and pragmatic Fowler, and the other one is idealistic (which would be called “Neocon” these days) and embodied in Pyle. Greene used character of Phuong as a way to set this conflict in form of allegorical romantic triangle.

Philip Noyce, Australian director who had some extraordinary works in his filmography (like Dead Calm), unfortunately wasn’t able to turn that conflict into powerful drama. This is mostly due to script by Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan, which deprives viewers of much of the suspense and tells the plot through flashbacks. On the other hand, the cast is very good. Michael Caine is once again showing great skills, this time as a character who is on the very edge of being utterly disliked by the audience - an old man who “sponsors” Vietnamese woman young enough to be his granddaughter. Brendan Fraser, who was at the time seen as specialist for light-hearted adventures and comedies, shows skills and dedication for difficult dramatic role, somewhat similar to the one he played in Gods and Monsters. He plays character that shows the line between noble idealism and destructive fanaticism can be quite thin. Fraser is especially good at scenes with Caine, and their interaction is so good that a scene that otherwise look more appropriate to The Jerry Springer Show looks convincing. With good cast, authentic Vietnamese locations ,as well as an atmosphere created by music score by Craig Armstrong, The Quiet American looks like a good film. Although plot resolves predictably even to those who didn’t pay attention to 20th Century history, and although it gives impression that it could have been better, it still deserves audience today. It should have much wider audience after production, but shortly before scheduled premiere date 9/11 happened, and Miramax, the studio behind it, didn’t want to risk its box office prospects with the film showing United States in unfavourable light. Instead, it was quietly brought to theatres a year later, when the US public, being mercilessly conditioned for upcoming invasion and occupation of Iraq, showed little understanding or will to be reminded of previous attempts to spread democracy over the globe. No lessons were learned and we might only hope that history won’t repeat itself when someone makes third adaptation of Greene’s novel.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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