Based on the poster, summary, and trailer my wife and I purchased our tickets eagerly anticipating a South African version of Mission Impossible. The movie we sat down to was definitely not that. More of a slow-paced visualization of a one-man recce mission (seriously?) with a strong anti-war sentiment.
Yes, being a soldier in wartime is an unpleasant occupation, so I get the anti-war message. But having served in SADF myself in the 1980's, I believe SA's Border War vets/heroes deserve a great deal more honour than was bestowed upon them in this movie. We did defend our borders from insurgents & 'die rooi gevaar' was a very real threat. Consider the world at that time - it was at the height of the Cold War.
The demonization of the SADF brass in the movie is most unfortunate in my opinion. They did their fair share of border time themselves and truly earned their medals and awards. Hopefully some future movies will be made to pay homage to these elite fighters and their forces.
Back to RECCE: Sad to say, our fearless blood streaked hero, Henk Viljoen, doesn't make it home alive to celebrate the birth of his baby. Instead he is gunned down while asleep in a tree by an assassin (towards the end of the movie) and his body mercilessly cremated in the bush. Left me feeling really sorry for his wife!
What kind of movie is this? Definitely not a Mission Impossible! Personally I would categorize RECCE as a tragedy.
Shakespeare would love it.
Yes, being a soldier in wartime is an unpleasant occupation, so I get the anti-war message. But having served in SADF myself in the 1980's, I believe SA's Border War vets/heroes deserve a great deal more honour than was bestowed upon them in this movie. We did defend our borders from insurgents & 'die rooi gevaar' was a very real threat. Consider the world at that time - it was at the height of the Cold War.
The demonization of the SADF brass in the movie is most unfortunate in my opinion. They did their fair share of border time themselves and truly earned their medals and awards. Hopefully some future movies will be made to pay homage to these elite fighters and their forces.
Back to RECCE: Sad to say, our fearless blood streaked hero, Henk Viljoen, doesn't make it home alive to celebrate the birth of his baby. Instead he is gunned down while asleep in a tree by an assassin (towards the end of the movie) and his body mercilessly cremated in the bush. Left me feeling really sorry for his wife!
What kind of movie is this? Definitely not a Mission Impossible! Personally I would categorize RECCE as a tragedy.
Shakespeare would love it.