On The Watchlist: Da 5 Bloods
The newest Spike Lee joint titled ‘Da 5 Bloods’ is another addition to his impressive filmography. The film follows a group of the four remaining ‘Bloods’ as they return to Vietnam, this time as veterans instead of soldiers. Their mission is to locate the remains of the fifth ‘Blood’ who was killed in action, as well as a significant amount of buried gold. Along the way, they encounter old and new acquaintances, revealing the skeletons in their closets from the war days.
The film is at times frustrating, heartwarming, and even violent, but Lee transitions seamlessly between these emotions. The editing is uniquely ‘Spike Lee’, and it conveys another level of perception for the audience. Just as Paul is haunted by memories and PTSD, the film intercuts the narrative of the characters’ present lives with footage and scenes from the war, perfectly mirroring Paul’s feelings and preoccupation with the past. Admittedly, the film’s two and a half hour runtime is definitely felt, although the pace really picks up in the final act.
Stylistically, Spike Lee creates a deeply immersive atmosphere which guides the viewer throughout space and time. The intro and outro beautifully bookend the film with some exceptional archival footage relating to the war. Throughout the film, the vibrant colors of Vietnam are particularly pleasing, but this aesthetic enchantment seems to fade as the story progresses.
Da 5 Bloods stands apart from any other Vietnam movie, or even any war movie. For example, Apocalypse Now (1979) which influenced the first screenplay by Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo that originally followed white veterans, notoriously dehumanizes the Vietcong and Vietnamese civilians. In contrast, Spike Lee and Kevin Willmott worked diligently to render multi-dimensional Vietnamese characters.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Wilmott explained; “We tried hard to put a human face on the Vietnamese, not just on the characters but on their point of view. One of the things that I really loved, that Spike was always very focused on, was how everyone in the film is from an oppressed group. Everyone is coming out of colonialism and slavery; they have more in common than they really have apart. So we always were trying to find those connections.”
The Vietnamese inhabitants are initially met with some hostility from the Bloods, (as war veterans), particularly after they react defensively to the Bloods’ veteran status. This serves as a reminder that the war may be over, but it has not left them. However, the sense that both the Bloods and the Vietnamese have been unfortunately victimized prevails. That is their shared experience.
Until this point, using the perspective of Black veterans was unheard of in the history of Hollywood. Lee represents just one story in an all too often forgotten statistic - that 23% of Vietnam combat troops were Black, while Black people only made up 11% of the US population. The lives of Black veterans, particularly those who served in Vietnam during the Civil Rights Movement, is therefore deeply intertwined with conflicts about patriotism. How can one believe in, or swear allegiance to a country that actively fights against ones’ rights and freedoms? How could these people possibly be expected to put their lives on the line both abroad and at home?
Spike Lee connects this theme of black liberation from the Civil Rights movement to current events, by integrating the Black Lives Matter movement in a closing scene. This scene was actually the first thing the crew shot, even before production had begun. This is unsurprising though, given Lee’s long history of activism. One of his most famous films, Do The Right Thing (1989), tackles discrimination and racial stereotypes. The film’s scene of fictionalized police brutality against character Radio Raheem is eerily reminiscent of the mistreatment and discrimination which has existed since the inception of the police system in the United States, and which we see far too often today. Aware of this similarity, Lee recently released a short film titled 3 Brothers - Radio Raheem, Eric Garner And George Floyd comparing the real murders of Garner and Floyd to the fictionalized death of Raheem. In reference to George Floyd, the short begins with the question; “Will History Stop Repeating Itself?” Lee posted this powerful short on Twitter for anyone to watch, which strongly I recommend.
The repetitive nature of anti-Black racism plays a slightly more backseat role in Da 5 Bloods than it does in many of Lee’s other works. He explores a new perspective and issue pertaining to African-Americans that has never been done before onscreen. Truly, Da 5 Bloods exhibits the skill and experience that only Lee could bring, while diving into deep and taboo topics like mental health, familial support, and the pursuit of money. While not for the faint of heart, Da 5 Bloods is a must-watch for anyone with a Netflix subscription.