Quentin Tarantino and ‘Hearts of Iron’
Quentin Tarantino, one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, has expressed his admiration for a film that deeply affected him. This work, directed by Brian De Palma and released in 1989, has left a lasting impression on the director of ‘Pulp Fiction’ and has become his main choice when he wants to explore the conflict of the Vietnam War. The film, called ‘Cors de Ferro’ (‘Casualties of War’ in English), is based on real events and follows a squadron of American soldiers in this conflict. Through the character played by Michael J. Fox, the film exposes the brutality of war and one man’s internal struggle against inhumanity.
Impact on Tarantino’s filmography
Tarantino considers that ‘Cors de Ferro’ contains one of the most traumatic rape scenes in the history of cinema. This scene influenced his own work, and its influence can be seen in the film ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1992), where he partially recreates another sequence from ‘Cors de Ferro’. Despite receiving good reviews, ‘Cors de Ferro’ was a box office failure due to its controversial subject matter and the crudeness of some scenes. Despite this, it remains a powerful exploration of the horrors of war and one of Quentin Tarantino’s favourites.
The Film and its Theme
The film stars Michael J. Fox as a young soldier caught up in the brutality and demoralization of war. Sean Penn plays Sergeant Meserve, a ruthless leader who orchestrates a crime that will shape the lives of the characters. The film does not limit itself to showing the cruelty of war, but explores themes such as dehumanization, the loss of innocence and the internal struggle between duty and morality.
Reception and Revaluation
Despite receiving mixed reviews at the time, over time ‘Cors de Ferro’ has been re-evaluated as a powerful and disturbing cinematic work. It has been praised for its realism, criticism of militarism and performances, especially that of Sean Penn. These qualities have been recognized as factors that attracted Quentin Tarantino to this film.