Born on the Fourth of July (film)

Born of the Fourth of July is an American drama war film based on the best-selling autobiography of the Vietnamese War veteran Ron Kovic. In the film, the actor Tom Cruise plays Ron Kovic. The film is actually directed by Oliver Stone who is, in fact, a Vietnamese War veteran. The film is about a young boy, Ron, who is full of enthusiasm and wants to go to Vietnam and fight for his country. He is very patriotic at first, but he is later tormented by physically and mentally wounds, which he got from the war, from which he suffers. Ron is developing throughout the film and you could easily say that the first phase is before the war, the second is during the war and the third is after the war. The film is not only trying to tell the viewer the personal development of Ron Kovic but also the director, Oliver Stone, wanted to show what is was like to be a part of the Vietnam War, seen from a war veteran´s point of view.

Ron Kovic is born of the 4th of July - the day The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, which to the Americans is a symbol of freedom and nationalism. The film is opening with a scene that shows Ron Kovic, whom is celebrating his 13th birthday and New York celebrating Independence Day with a parade of World War 2 veteran. His family is very caught up by the patriotic theme of the day, and they are very proud to have a son who is born on the 4th of July. The film takes place in the 60´s where the young boys are told that they shall be willing to fight for their country, because it shows their manhood, patriotism and national love. Furthermore they should do it in honour of their granddads that fought in the World War 2. You could say that their generation of boys have been indoctrinated at a young age where they are unable to determine what really to believe.

Kovic is born and raised in Massapequa in a very religious family. He is a very talented boy, who always tries to be number one. You can tell, because Ron is already at a very young age good at sports. Ron Kovic grows up in a patriotic and Catholic household, providing him with a strong pride for his country and religion. Therefore it is no surprise that he is convinced that he wants to join the Marines, when the local Marine recruiting NCOs visit his school and give Ron a lecture about the Corps. His friends and family are not generally happy about him joining the Marine, but they accept his decision. Once he goes overseas to Vietnam his enthusiasm is soon turned confusion. In Vietnam his platoon is ordered to kill innocent women and children. That was not what Ron signed for. He didn’t join the army to kill innocent people. Ron is horrified by his own actions, but before he can do anything about it North Vietnamese soldiers attack them. In the escape and confusion he accidently shoots a fellow soldier, Wilson, from his own platoon. When he tries to tell his captain what really happened, the captain just tells him it was the Vietnamese who did it, and that it shall never be spoken of again. Still haunted by his actions Kovic is again attacked, but this time he is shot and badly wounded. He becomes paralyzed in his legs and is treated at a bad hospital. Ron is sent back home to America in a wheelchair, but he doesn’t get the reception he had hoped for. Back in the U.S the veterans are very criticized, as you can see in the parade he participates in. His family also treats him differently now that he is paralyzed, while Ron just tries to keep his masculinity and dignity. Ron realizes that all the things he was told and taught just were illusions that he would give up just to get his legs and dignity back. He is still haunted by his actions I Vietnam, but he is no ready to speak about it in public even though Donna tries to convince him to join and demonstrate. When Ron one night returns home drunk he gets in a big fight with his mother. The mother represents the religious and blind American people who cannot see what is really happening in the world, and with Ron knowing what the government really are doing in Vietnam the two of them are colliding. In search of meaning in his life Ron travels to Mexico. In Mexico he realizes that he will not get inner peace before he has told his story. His starts with telling Wilson´s family the truth about what really happened to their son in Vietnam. This confession seems to lift a heavy burden from Ron´s conscience. Furthermore he decides to join the demonstrators against the war. He wants to be on camera to tell his story on all the veterans’ behalf and for the country’s own good.

As said in the beginning the film was made to show the Vietnam War from the soldiers´ point of view and also what really happened during the war and the cause and effect. The film is also about finding you self. Its shows a young man who was born and raised to believe and fight for something, which he later finds out is just an illusion. Ron made huge sacrifices, both mentally and physically, to become the person he is in the end of the film. That person is nothing like the one we saw in the beginning and that shows an incredible development of character.