Casualties of War (1989)
- Starring:
- Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn, (more)
- Director(s):
- Brian De Palma
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
|
Blu-ray
| Digital SD
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Synopsis of Casualties of War
Casualties of War was based on a New Yorker article by Daniel Lang. This, in turn, was inspired by a true incident which illustrated the dehumanizing aspects of the Vietnam experience. Michael J. Fox plays Eriksson, a member of an American squadron stationed in the deepest jungles of Southeast Asia. Sean Penn co-stars as Meserve, the squadron sergeant, who vows revenge after his best friend is killed. He orders his men to invade a village and "requisition" a young Vietnamese girl (Thuy Thu Lee), who is repeatedly tied, gagged and gang-raped. The horrified Eriksson refuses to participate in these atrocities, and he does his best to console the girl and to attempt to free her. Before this can happen, however, Meserve orders another man to kill the girl. Once he returns to camp, Eriksson attempts to file a report on the tragedy and to bring Meserve and the others to justice, but he is stonewalled by the brass and threatened with death by his fellow soldiers. Eventually Meserve and his co-conspirators are jailed for their crimes, but Eriksson can never forget his "compliance" in the incident by failing to save the girl. The script is by well-known playwright David Rabe. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 119 mins
Complete Cast of Casualties of War
- Michael J. Fox - Pfc. Eriksson
- Don Harvey - Clark
- John Leguizamo - Diaz
- Erik King - Brown, Radio Man
- Ving Rhames - Lt. Reilly
- Sam Robards - Chaplain Kirk
- Ba Thuan T. Le - Oahn's Mother
- John Linton - Agent
- Kwan - Child Villager
- Hataya Sarmount - Girl Villager
- Kristopher Dunn - Soldier
- Marius Valainis - Streibig
- Al Shannon - Wilkins
- Brian De Palma
- Vinh Tran - V.C. Interpreter
- Sigma - Villager Woman
- Po Powpi - Villager Old Man
- Niran - V.C. in Tunnel
- Wendell Pierce - MacIntire
- Steve Larson - Agent
- Sherman Howard - Court Martial President
- Sean Penn - Sgt. Meserve
- John C. Reilly - Hatcher
- Thuy Thu Le - Oahn
- Jack Gwaltney - Rowan
- Dale Dye - Capt. Hill
- Darren E. Burrows - Cherry
- Ennalls Berl - Soldier Charlie
- Vyto Ruginis - Prosecutor
- Shane Kerwin - Soldier
- Scott Gregory - Soldier Charlie
- J. Chalerm - Villager Old Man Farmer
- Kady Tran - Yen, Oahn's Sister
- Art Linson
- Donal Gibson - Soldier
- Somsak - ARVN Interpreter
- Shaun Shea - Soldier
- Nootch - Child Villager
- Holt McCallany - Lt. Kramer
- Dan Martin - Hawthorne
- Woody Harrelson
- J.J. - M.P.
- Director(s):
- Brian De Palma
- Writer(s):
- Brian De Palma, David Rabe
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Rape & Sexual Abuse, War Violence, Not For Children, Nudity, Profanity)
- Categories:
- War
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