APOCALYPSE NOW- WILLARD MEETS KURTZ.

"Apocalypse Now" is a cinematic masterpiece known for its haunting portrayal of the
Vietnam War and the descent into madness that often accompanies it. It is a loosely based
adaptation of the novel ‘Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, with the setting changed from
late 19th-century Congo to the Vietnam War.
As we journey upriver with Willard, we are gradually drawn deeper into the heart of
darkness, both metaphorically and literally. When Willard finally arrives at Kurtz's
compound, it is a moment filled with tension and anticipation. The eerie silence is punctuated
only by the sound of a gentle fan, adding to a sense of otherworldliness. Marlon Brando's
portrayal of Colonel Kurtz is nothing short of extraordinary. His physical presence alone is
enough to send shivers down the spine. Kurtz is a man who has been driven to the brink of
insanity by the horrors of war and his own descent into the heart of darkness. Martin Sheen's
performance as Captain Willard is equally remarkable. His internal struggle is palpable, as he
grapples with the moral complexities of his mission and his growing fascination with Kurtz.
The encounter between Willard and Kurtz is a clash of two tortured souls, each grappling
with the darkness within themselves and the world around them.
The script describes the surroundings as surreal and the atmosphere is almost hallucinatory.
Willard is forcibly captured and brought before Kurtz by his followers. Kurtz is introduced in
a dramatic fashion. He is initially shown in shadow, and as he slowly emerges into the light, it
becomes clear just how imposing and powerful he is. As Kurtz speaks about the beautiful
“gardenia plantation” on the Ohio River that has become wild and overgrown, it stands as a
metaphor for the serene country of Vietnam that has turned into a raging war zone. By
referring to Willard as an "errand boy" to “grocery clerks,” Kurtz implies that soldiers like
Willard soldiers are mere pawns in a larger, serving the interests of those who have no true
understanding of the war's horrors.
The camera angles in the scene play a crucial role in building tension and highlighting the
characters' psychological states. The scene employs extreme close-ups to capture the
characters' facial expressions and convey their emotions. Close-ups of Captain Willard's face
show his apprehension, curiosity, and internal conflict. The camera zooms in and close-ups of
Colonel Kurtz's face highlight his imposing presence and the intensity of his words. Low-
angle shots are used when framing Colonel Kurtz, making him appear even more imposing
and powerful. This camera angle emphasizes his authority and dominance over Willard and
his followers. High-angle shots are used to frame Willard at times when he is confronting
Kurtz. This camera angle can make Willard appear vulnerable and smaller in comparison to
Kurtz, highlighting the power dynamic between them. Tracking shots are used as Willard
walks deeper into the compound, creating a sense of movement and progression.
The scene primarily utilizes low-key lighting, characterized by a high contrast between light
and shadow. This creates a sense of darkness and secrecy. The contrast between the well-lit
portions of the characters' faces and the deep shadows adds to the psychological tension of
the scene. Much of the lighting in Kurtz's compound comes from candles, torches, and dimly
lit lanterns. This soft, flickering candlelight contributes to the eerie and surreal atmosphere of
the scene. At times, Kurtz is lit from behind, creating a rim light effect. This technique makes
him appear larger than life and reinforces his dominating presence. The contrast between the
natural light filtering in from the jungle outside and the artificial lighting inside Kurtz's
compound is symbolic. It represents the clash between the primal, unfiltered reality of the
natural world and the manufactured, distorted reality within the compound. Extreme close-up
shots often focus light on the characters' faces, highlighting their expressions and emotions.
This technique allows the audience to connect with the characters.
The editing allows the camera to linger on the faces of the characters without frequent cuts.
This allows the audience to absorb the dialogue and the intensity of the performances. The
editing juxtaposes moments of stillness and silence with moments of intense dialogue and
emotion.
Although inspired by Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the film deviates extensively from
its source material. After arriving at Kurtz's outpost, Marlow concludes that Kurtz has gone
insane and is lording over a small tribe as a god, while Colonel Kurtz in the movie is a
renegade officer who has become unsound and whose assassination is assigned to Willard. In
‘Heart of Darkness,’ Kurtz is primarily characterized through Marlow's perspective but the
film provides a more direct portrayal of Kurtz through Marlon Brando's performance and his
dialogues. Nevertheless, the depiction of Kurtz as a god-like leader of a tribe of natives and
his malarial fever, Kurtz's written exclamation "Exterminate all the brutes!” which appears in
the film as "Drop the bomb. Exterminate them all!" and his last words "The horror! The
horror!" are taken from Conrad's novella.