WEEKEND WAR
US, 1988, 96 minutes, Colour.
Daniel Stern, Stephen Collins, Charles Haid, James Tolkan.
Directed by Steven Hilliard Stern.
Weekend War is a telemovie focusing on American international policy of the late '80s. It considers the troubles in Central America, the Sandinista rebellion and the Contras in Nicaragua, the role of Honduras. The film is critical of the CIA and their using American policy to further international intrigue.
The film focuses on some California National Guardsmen, professionals who give some time each year to the National Guard. While building an airstrip in Honduras, they are called to rebuild a bridge near the Nicaraguan border. With a nod to The Bridge on the River Kwai, the commander decides that it is better policy to destroy the bridge rather than let it be used for fighting and for the killing of the poor villagers.
The film links in with other films critical of the United States role in Central America: Oliver Stone's Salvador, John Duigan's Romero.
The cast is quite strong and gives the film more forcefulness than it otherwise might have. Filmed on location in Puerto Rico, the film has an authentic look. It raises issues of politics and international policy for the wide television audience. Direction is by Steven Hilliard Stern, director of a wide range of telemovies.
1.War film? Central America? The troubles of the '70s and '80s? American policy and the CIA? The effect on the poor people of Central America?
2.The location photography, the atmosphere of Central America, the jungles? The musical score?
3.The title, its focus on war, the emphasis on weekend - and the role of the National Guard recruits and their part-time service? The deadly experience in Honduras?
4.The establishing of the characters: John, his architectural practice, building malls, interest in Latin American architecture? Relationships? The doctor, his practice and exams, family? The young man in the record store, his modern style? The sergeant and his Vietnam experience, the professional? Thompson and command? Their assembling, parades, farewells? Their mission?
5.In Central America, Honduras, the local officials? The building of the airstrip? The work, the young men going on the town, the women, the fight and the arrest? Their being tipped off?
6.Frank Rudd, casual arrival and talk, favours and gifts? Proposition about the bridge - made plausible? Thompson's acceptance of the mission? John in command, issued with arms and live ammunition? Travelling to the village?
7.The village, the mayor, the bombing of the bridge? Suspicions? The sounds of fighting in the jungle? The work, the skills?
8.The village, the priest and his telling John the truth about the role of the bridge, massacres? John and his hesitations? The priest taking him to the architectural ruins? His change of heart? The doctor, helping the people, the caesarean birth, offering to leave the medicine? Wiley and his friend - with the locals? The young boy in the card games? The sergeant, his looking down on the amateurs? Thompson and contact and control?
9.The attack on the bridge? The fiesta and people enjoying themselves? The young man and the local girl? The doctor - and his being killed? The fight, the action sequences? Rudd and his role? Injuries, heroism? John and his decision to bomb the bridge - the sergeant agreeing? Tactics? The explosion?
10.The aftermath, deaths and injuries? Farewelled by the priest? The attack on Rudd? The return - sadness? John and his telling Thompson that he would speak the truth?
11.The dramatising of political issues? Alerting the wide television audience to the complexities of international policy and the role of the United States, the army and the CIA in Latin America?
