Heaven & Earth

Heaven & Earth is a deeply resonant and gripping war drama film released in 1993, marking the third final installment of director Oliver Stone's Vietnam War Trilogy, following Platoon (1986) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989).

The film diverges from its predecessors in many ways. Notably, it focuses on the experience of Vietnamese people, through the eyes of a woman, during the Vietnam War. It becomes a poignant exploration of the human capacity for endurance, adaptation, and survival amid the most brutal of circumstances.

The movie stars Vietnamese actress Hiep Thi Le in a breakout performance as the lead character Le Ly, based on real-life Vietnamese woman Le Ly Hayslip, whose memoirs "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" and "Child of War, Woman of Peace" served as the basis for the film's screenplay. Her life's journey unfolds across the backdrop of war-torn Vietnam, spanning her humble beginnings as a rice farmer in a small Vietnamese village, her survival amid brutal interrogation and torture, and her relationships amid the ongoing war.

Opposite Hiep Thi Le, we find the Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones who intensifies the screen presence with the portrayal of Steve Butler, a troubled and psychologically scarred American soldier whom Le Ly encounters during the war. Jones masterfully presents a complex character, tortured by his past actions and traumatised by his time in the war, navigating his way through mental health issues while trying to build a life in America amidst a cultural environment vastly different from Vietnam.

Another renowned actor, Haing S. Ngor, who previously won an Academy Award for his role in The Killing Fields, plays Le Ly's father. He brings to life a character that embodies traditional Vietnamese values, spirituality, and philosophy, shaping her outlook on life and providing an emotional anchor for Le Ly’s character.

Director Oliver Stone does an exceptional job weaving these stories and characters into a rich tapestry of war drama. Heaven & Earth is intense and at times brutal in its depiction of war. This is exemplified through realistic battle scenes and heart-wrenching moments of personal tragedy. The film bravely highlights the terrors of war, not just from the perspective of the battlefield but also from the lens of the civilians who were unavoidably entangled in its chaos.

Nonetheless, it is not just a movie about war, for much of the narrative takes place post-war, where it morphs into a cinematic recount of immigration, adaptation, and cultural clash, exploring how these characters navigate through their drastically changed lives.

Much like its name, Heaven & Earth also paints vividly contrasting pictures of the East and the West. The film effortlessly transitions between the dense vegetation of Vietnamese villages to the commercialized and industrial landscape of America. This juxtaposition serves as a symbol of the vast differences, challenges, and barriers these characters experience in their journey from traditional Vietnamese backgrounds to their new, far from familiar, life in America.

The cinematography is noteworthy, vividly capturing the color, texture, and soul of Vietnamese culture and juxtaposing it with the stark, unfamiliar terrain of America. Beautiful yet heartbreaking images reflect both the unspoiled beauty of the Vietnamese countryside and the ruins left by the ravages of war.

Adding to the overall look and feel, the musical score by Kitaro evokes an encompassing and moving atmosphere, infusing the movie with a combination of traditional Eastern melodies and universal emotional themes.

Heaven & Earth may not have reached the same level of commercial success as its trilogy counterparts, but its significance and relevance as a historical piece cannot be overlooked. Stone’s commitment to painting a balanced portrayal of the war is evident and makes an important contribution to cinema, providing a seldom-seen perspective of the Vietnam War. The movie skillfully depicts the brutality of the war and its psychological, emotional, and cultural aftermath on the lives of individuals who lived through it.

Overall, Heaven & Earth is a compelling movie that invites the audience to consider the deep and lasting human impact of war, the strengths and resilience of the human spirit, and the enduring hope for a better future.