PTSD ◆ Haunted by the Nightmares of War
Chunichi Shimbun, Morning Edition, January 26, 2007
The Deer Hunter (1978, USA)
Have you heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that can develop after life-threatening experiences such as war, terrorism, or natural disasters? In the United States, the psychological aftereffects experienced by veterans returning from the Vietnam War became a major social issue, leading to the recognition of this disorder.
The Deer Hunter portrays a group of young men who live peaceful lives in a small American town, enjoying deer hunting, until the Vietnam War devastates their lives.
The film's most powerful symbol of hell is Russian roulette. Michael, Steven, and Nick are captured by North Vietnamese soldiers and imprisoned in a riverside camp. There, their captors force two prisoners to face each other and take turns pulling the trigger of a revolver held to their own temples, gambling on which man will die. Michael, played by Robert De Niro, encourages Nick and Steven, who are on the verge of mental collapse, and uses his courage and quick thinking to help them escape this horrifying ordeal.
When Michael returns home, he receives a warm welcome, but he cannot find peace of mind. He eventually learns that Steven has lost a leg and is recovering in an army hospital. When Michael visits him, he discovers that Steven has a surprisingly large sum of money. It has been sent by Nick, who disappeared in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City.
Michael travels to Saigon to bring Nick home, only to be shocked by what he finds. Nick, his eyes vacant and lifeless, has been making large sums of money by participating in deadly games of Russian roulette.
Why would Nick, tormented by terrifying memories, repeatedly put himself through the same ordeal? In PTSD, the vivid reliving of traumatic memories is known as re-experiencing. As Nick repeatedly relives his terror, he seems to lose the ability to distinguish reality from his nightmares.
The film helped inspire the creation of a memorial to American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War.
War leaves countless tragedies in its wake, not only for those who die, but also for those who survive.
