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Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now

Dutch Angle: Chas Gerretsen & Apocalypse Now

2019

Director

Baris Azman

Runtime

32 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

In the 1970s, Dutch photographer Charles ‘Chas’ Gerretsen suddenly became world famous with his then small oeuvre. Privateer from a young age and former war photographer, he was invited by Francis Ford Coppola to capture everything on the set of Apocalypse Now because of his wartime experiences. Most of his work on the legendary set has never been seen before. Until now. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Apocalypse Now, Rotterdam-based cinema KINO Rotterdam and the Nederlands Fotomuseum joined forces to unearth the archive of Gerretsen and produced a documentary together. The documentary contains an in-depth interview with Gerretsen and more than 100 pictures of the stellar cast including Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper and Martin Sheen. It even features images of deleted scenes.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.3/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The documentary focuses on the biographical life of Chas Gerretsen and the production of a specific film. It contains no LGBTQ+ characters or themes.

Gender Representation

Limited

The film centers on the male-dominated worlds of 1970s war photography and hyper-masculine film sets. It relies heavily on traditional masculine archetypes common to that era.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

While the primary subjects are Western, the visual archive captures the racial complexities of the Vietnam War. However, agency remains centered on the white photographer.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative explores the deconstruction of Western military intervention and the subjectivity of truth. It offers a skeptical view of traditional institutional power.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within this archival study.

Strengths

  • Provides a raw, unmediated look at the intersection of art and conflict.
  • Challenges traditional patriotic narratives through a skeptical lens of military intervention.
  • Offers a nuanced exploration of the subjectivity of truth via photography.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks representation of diverse social identities or progressive narratives.
  • Focuses heavily on male-dominated spheres and traditional masculine archetypes.
  • Agency remains centered on Western perspectives within a global conflict.

AI Analysis

This documentary serves as a historical archive rather than a vehicle for social representation. It documents a specific, male-centric era of photojournalism and cinematic history through the lens of Chas Gerretsen. The film's impact lies in its ability to disrupt conventional historical narratives. By providing unmediated access to the intersection of art and conflict, it offers a complex view of 1970s systemic realities. Ultimately, the work is a biographical study of a specific professional niche, which limits its breadth of social diversity.

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