Ivan Zachariáš presents

“I like a lot of movies but I chose The Deer Hunter. The reason might be a little selfish: I’ve never seen it on the big screen and I’d like myself and everyone else to have the experience. I remember the film because of its style, because of how the story is put together, how powerful its war scenes are and also the scenes of helplessness. Last but not least, I admire its portrayal of Pennsylvania’s industrial atmosphere in connection with the brutal transition to the insanity of war.”

Even 40 years after this intense drama took five Oscars including Best Picture, it remains one of the most powerful films made about the Vietnam War. But the director took his own route to making an action spectacular: he devotes only the middle part of his epic portrayal to the war, while the film’s remaining footage is split between the three friends before they are called up to serve in Vietnam and after they return. And the psychological and moral trauma they endure is just as painful as the physical maiming suffered by one of them.