the quiet american
Name: Vo Thi Huynh Nhu
Student code: 7116773
Instructor: Truong Thi Kim Lien
Literature and movies (XH541)
Group 1
Reflective journal 2: The Quiet American
April 4, 2014
The Quiet American: A wartime love triangle
One of the famous novels written by Graham Green, The Quiet American was adapted into the film with the same name directed by Phillip Noyce in 2002. The themes of the film mention not only war, but also love setting in Saigon, Viet Nam, in 1952, during the First Indochina War where much of focuses on three main characters that are in a love triangle between Fowler, Phuong, and Pyle. Thomas Fowler is a British journalist covering the French war in Viet Nam for two years. Having a failed marriage, Fowler has begun a relationship with a Vietnamese girl, Phuong, “a professional dancer”. Love and life of Fowler are shaken up when Alden Pyle, a young idealistic man and the “quiet American”, appears. He arrives in Viet Nam as hero of The Third Force rather than suppose with a medical aid mission.
When Pyle meets Phuong, he feels love immediately for her and makes effort to recapture her heart. Despite introducing Phuong to Pyle, Fowler cannot conceal his envy of Pyle when his American rival dances with his possession. With his passionate ideals and desire to do the right things for Phuong, Pyle completely opposes to the weary world of Fowler. From this time, a long triangle between them has been occurred.
Phuong is centre of the love triangle; she is objectified by Pyle and Fowler, both of whom want to protect her from the war. Pyle loves Phuong at the first look and wants to steal her from Fowler; however, he wants to be upfront and tells Phuong of his feelings with Fowler as an interpreter to translate Pyle’s intentions to his lover. With this scene, we can see Pyle’s respect to Phuong and his “pair play” between two men. If we see only one side in this love triangle, we may think that it is a noble love. Although they are rivals in love, they
Student code: 7116773
Instructor: Truong Thi Kim Lien
Literature and movies (XH541)
Group 1
Reflective journal 2: The Quiet American
April 4, 2014
The Quiet American: A wartime love triangle
One of the famous novels written by Graham Green, The Quiet American was adapted into the film with the same name directed by Phillip Noyce in 2002. The themes of the film mention not only war, but also love setting in Saigon, Viet Nam, in 1952, during the First Indochina War where much of focuses on three main characters that are in a love triangle between Fowler, Phuong, and Pyle. Thomas Fowler is a British journalist covering the French war in Viet Nam for two years. Having a failed marriage, Fowler has begun a relationship with a Vietnamese girl, Phuong, “a professional dancer”. Love and life of Fowler are shaken up when Alden Pyle, a young idealistic man and the “quiet American”, appears. He arrives in Viet Nam as hero of The Third Force rather than suppose with a medical aid mission.
When Pyle meets Phuong, he feels love immediately for her and makes effort to recapture her heart. Despite introducing Phuong to Pyle, Fowler cannot conceal his envy of Pyle when his American rival dances with his possession. With his passionate ideals and desire to do the right things for Phuong, Pyle completely opposes to the weary world of Fowler. From this time, a long triangle between them has been occurred.
Phuong is centre of the love triangle; she is objectified by Pyle and Fowler, both of whom want to protect her from the war. Pyle loves Phuong at the first look and wants to steal her from Fowler; however, he wants to be upfront and tells Phuong of his feelings with Fowler as an interpreter to translate Pyle’s intentions to his lover. With this scene, we can see Pyle’s respect to Phuong and his “pair play” between two men. If we see only one side in this love triangle, we may think that it is a noble love. Although they are rivals in love, they