Although the setting is Indochina, the natives are played by Black people of African origin.
According to Andre's log at one point, the guillotine has just been built. But it could be seen when Therese entered the camp several weeks earlier.
When Therese arrives in Saigon, she takes a short ride with Captain Bandoin in a rickshaw. At one point, when they move into bright sunlight, a clear shadow of a crew member and the boom microphone falls across the pair--and the crew member seems to attempt to duck down.