Set in an Army barracks in 1965, a group of young soldiers wait assignment to Vietnam. The draftees come from diverse backgrounds: two are afro-americans, one a country boy and the other a Yale-educated homosexual. They are confronted by two brutal ex-Korean war veteran sergeants. Sexual and racial tensions build as the men wait in their claustrophobic barracks but eventually shocking violence erupts. The barracks is a microcosm of the explosive emotions and issues which surfaced in America at that time, however the theatrical nature of the original material, (based on a play by David Rabe) is reflected in a static production which is more stagebound than fluid. The performances, especially by Matthew Modine, Michael Wright and George Dzundza are superb.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
305069
Language
English
Audience classification
MA
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → African Americans in motion pictures
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → African Americans in motion pictures
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Gay and lesbian studies
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Homosexuality in motion pictures
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)