RIFLE RANGE BOY: Same Script, Different Backdrop!

The Ugly American (1963)

Director: George Englund

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This film was regarded as Marlon Brando's favourite, but unfortunately, it was made when Brando's movies did not sell well, as they failed to engage the American audience. The ending of this film reveals everything; this was how the American public saw it: too preachy. As the American Ambassador delivered a long, verbose speech on TV, viewers simply switched off the TV halfway through his speech.

The message behind the story was genuine, but those in power were not willing to admit that foreign policies were the leading cause of most international conflicts. At a time when Hollywood was producing films that praised America as the saviour of the free world, this was a new perspective. When John Wayne's westerns justified the invasion of Native American lands and the killing of Native Americans, this was different. During World War II, it was necessary to portray the Axis Powers as the axis of evil; however, in the Vietnam War and the resulting unnecessary casualties, the public began to question. Why interfere in fixing a political situation in a country that does not want help? Was the desire to save the world from communist ideology so intense that it justified the collateral damage?

Thai Script

The story recounts a fictitious nation called Sarkhan experiencing civil unrest. The citizens are dissatisfied with their Prime Minister and hope to bring about change. The northern part of Sarkhan (North Sarkhan) has adopted communist ideology, strongly supported by China and the Soviet Union. This references the Vietnam situation. The Americans, along with the ruling government, are constructing a new highway. The people believe it will not benefit them and openly voice their resentment. There have been a few explosions and killings. The American ambassador (played by Marlon Brando) is determined to continue, as it serves their interests in keeping the communist North in check. All these details mirror what was happening in Vietnam.

Vietnamese - New Script

For the keen-eyed, it is evident from afar that the shooting took place in Thailand. The protestors' placards all display Thai script. As is well known, Thai script is quite distinct from Cambodian or Vietnamese. The Thai and Cambodian scripts both evolved from the ancient Khmer script, itself derived from the Pallava script of South India, which is rooted in the Brahmi script. Historically, the Vietnamese used Chữ Nôm with Chinese characters. Still, later Chữ Quốc ngữ, a Latin-based script introduced by Portuguese missionaries, became the standard for both public and private communication.

Vietnamese - Old Script

60 years later, in 2025, the world remains burdened by the interference of major powers in the local affairs of smaller nations. In the post-WWII era, the Cold War was a significant factor. The self-appointed leader of the free world, the USA, had to ensure that the communist influence was reined in. Now, geopolitics and the need to provide the uninterrupted availability of supplies of power, minerals and trade are the main reasons. Come to think of it, it was the same when the European East India Companies first set sail to the spice islands. One went the wrong way and insisted it had reached India and started calling the Natives of the New World Indians!

P.S. Surprise, surprise. There seems to be a subtle link between the people leading the Gen-Z revolution in Nepal, Hami Nepal, and the US-funded NGOs.