KINORAFIELD GUIDE TO FILM
1979 · 147 min · R

Apocalypse Now

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · Drama, War

Apocalypse Now (1979) is a Drama film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola set in Vietnam and Cambodia during the 1960s. It runs 147 minutes and is rated R.

A survival, with a bleak and surreal dreamlike tone. Themes of madness / loss of sanity, war's cost, and power & corruption play out through frame narrative.

Composer
Carmine CoppolaFrancis Ford Coppola
Cinematography
Vittorio Storaro
Cast
Martin SheenMarlon BrandoFrederic ForrestAlbert HallLaurence FishburneSam BottomsRobert DuvallG.D. Spradlin

The world of this film

Setting

Where
VietnamCambodia
Setting
WildernessRural
When
1960s

Premise & themes

Premise
Survival
Themes
Madness / Loss Of SanityWar's CostPower & Corruption
Structure
Frame Narrative
Tone
BleakSurreal DreamlikeTense

Shape

Protagonist
Solo LeadAntihero
Pacing
Slow Burn
Dialogue
Balanced
Based on
Inspired By Real Events

More like this

  • 2010

    127 Hours

    Utah — 2000s
    Wilderness · Desert · Undergrounddir. Danny Boyle
  • 1994

    Forrest Gump

    Alabama · Vietnam · Washington, D.C. · New York City — 1950s · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s
    Rural · Urban · Coastal Seadir. Robert Zemeckis
  • 1986

    Platoon

    Vietnam — 1960s
    Wildernessdir. Oliver Stone
  • 1974

    The Conversation

    San Francisco — 1970s
    Urbandir. Francis Ford Coppola
  • 1972

    The Godfather

    New York City · Sicily · Las Vegas — 1940s · 1950s
    Urbandir. Francis Ford Coppola
  • 1974

    The Godfather Part II

    New York City · Sicily · Las Vegas · Havana — 1900s · 1910s · 1920s · 1940s · 1950s
    Urban · Ruraldir. Francis Ford Coppola