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Limb & Spinal Major 
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DISABILITY |
Limb
Paraplegia |
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NOTES |
This is a
film about the effect of war on those who don't go to |
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war, about
Jane Fonda's character, Sally Hyde. Married to a |
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good looking
marine who is sent to Vietnam she falls in love |
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with a
paraplegic veteran of that war, Luke (Jon Voight). |
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Through that
relationship with the bitter, angry Luke she |
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changes from
the mild, conforming housewife to someone |
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more mature
and independent. Luke also changes, becoming less angry
with himself and more angry with the war itself.
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His great
desire to make love to Sally is eventually fulfilled |
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(and
fulfilled in cinema terms too) though Sally is still resolved
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not to
desert her husband.
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The husband
returning, himself injured (self-inflicted), and the |
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difficulty
he has coping with her unfaithfulness spoil the end |
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of the film
but we are likely to be emotionally carried along with the
characters not to notice this too much.
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This is not
the easiest of films to watch because it tackles the issues of
severe disablement head on from the moment when Sally
crashes into Luke and his urine bag spills in front of them.
Because of this, along with the fine acting, and despite some
melodramatic moments this is a film which shows it as it is
including the sex thing. And perhaps the first film to do so. There is
much more. The role of the F.B.I. in monitoring protest
movements, the change in Sally's husband after his exposure to
Vietnam, his failure to come to terms with change (he commits
suicide). |
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What may
turn some off is the film's desire to preach. It is |
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certainly an
antiwar film. |
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But beyond
the disability factor the film reveals a genuine |
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friendship
between a man and a woman which would be |
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interesting
even outside the hospital. |
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Notes
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