The film ‘Salvador’
The film ‘Salvador’ revolves around the genocide and the grim happenings of the early 1980s in El Salvador, involving the military dictatorship. This Oliver Stone’s, first prominent film has James Woods and James Belushi in the cast, who play an veteran photojournalist Richard Boyle, and a DJ Dr. Rock respectively. The movie portrays the horror unleashed by the right-wing squads through their gorilla warfare. The film has all the ingredients of an adventure film in right proportions.
Boyle’s attachment for liquor and drugs leaves him unemployed despite being capable of good work. When things keep going bad for Boyle, he decides to go to El Salvador with his best friend Dr. Rock, for a freelance lucrative work amidst the prevailing turmoil, not realizing what was in store for them. Rock too doesn’t have any DJ assignments. While entering El Salvador, Boyle and Rock happen to witness the execution of a student at the hands of the military, which make them reconsider their decision.
They now realize that El Salvador is a more serious and dangerous war, than they were expecting. Boyle learns that the actual situation at hand is much worse than that portrayed in the US press, after he sees a severed ear collection of a right wing military officer. Boyle also recognizes several prominent US military and CIA personnel, with whom he had served in Vietnam, who are now not willing to account for their presence. In El Salvador, Boyle meets Maria with whom he falls in love.
He also meets a Newsday reporter John Cassady, and a Catholic nun Cathy Moore. His initial cynicism gives way to heightened passions and anger through his association with Maria and observation of Cathy’s humanitarian efforts. After realizing the devastating situation around him, Boyle becomes determined to change the situation, in the course of which he puts his life to risks. The assassination of Archbishop Romero has been filmed with passion and truth. Clad in white robe, the archbishop is clearly contrasted from the dark brick wall behind him.
Giving his sermon, the archbishop accuses Washington of favoring the military dictatorship, and prays to God to end the violence and sufferings. The archbishop is assassinated by someone from the government, which soon has people fleeing for their lives, and the military personnel attacking unarmed people. Boyle ensures that he is available wherever there is any action, be it the military headquarters, the guerrilla camps or even the US embassy (Goodman, 1986). When the Archbishop Romero is assassinated, Boyle is there close to the assassin.
The film brings to life, the happenings in El Salvador, through appropriate settings, locations and laudable performances. For instance when Boyle and Cassidy photograph the dead bodies at a dumpsite, El Playon; the dreadful situation is evident from Boyle’s dirty face, a handkerchief around his neck and the terrain they work. In Santa Ana, Cassady takes his last memorable picture. He films a plane flying overhead while the military and guerrillas are fighting. The plane is flying into the town subsequent to the restoration of military aid by the US.
Cassady meets his end while taking the shot exposing American assistance to the government. Cassady had always believed that one has to go closer to get the truth, however if it’s too close, you die. Boyle promises the dying Cassady that he will take his all important photos out of El Salvador. The death of Cassady reminds viewers of the real photographer John Hoagland of Newsweek who died in action while in El Salvador (McClennen, 2007). The settings used in the film are very realistic, integrating the prevailing poverty and terrain with the existing turmoil.
Although the movie is claimed to be a true story, not all events shown can be corroborated or verified from records. Neither can they be easily dismissed as having been added to heighten the sentiments of the viewers. However the film makers have taken pains to acknowledge variations whenever adopted, like the scene in which Boyle and Maria are caught at the border. The production of the movie was itself plagued by several adversities. The film is a heart touching one, the effects of which would be with the viewer for a long time, after viewing it.
REFERENCES
McClennen S., (2007) Salvador Section 3: Media analysis. [Electronic Version] Downloaded on 16th September 2008 from
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/s/a/sam50/cinergia/mf/salvador.htm
Goodman W (1986) Screen: ‘Salvador’ by Stone. The New York Times. March 5, 1986 [Electronic Version] Downloaded on 16th September 2008 from
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0DEFDB1F3AF936A35750C0A960948260
