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Review: Danger Close PLUS Win Tickets!Thanks to our mates at Transmission Films, we've got 25 double passes to giveaway!

Rebecca Daniels | July 25 2019

Review: Danger Close PLUS Win Tickets!

Have you heard of the Battle of Long Tan? If your answer was no, you’re certainly not the only Australian that hasn’t. The Battle of Long Tan happened in South Vietnam, in August of 1966. 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers (most of them conscripts at an average age of around 20 years old) faced an unrelenting assault from 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers over three and a half hours.18 Australian troops and at least 250 – reports say possibly even over 500 – enemy soldiers were killed in the fight. What's more, it took the Australian Government more than 45 years to recognize the heroism of these 108 soldiers on that day. Danger Close tells the story of that tragic day.  



Travis Fimmel (of Vikings fame) brings a little of that Ragnar Lothbrok intensity and ruthlessness to the role of Major Harry Smith, the strict commander of the Delta Company. He’s not well-liked by the troops under his command, including Private Paul Large (Daniel Webber), who is subject to Major Smith’s hard discipline after accidentally firing his weapon while on duty. Smith and his men are sent on what is supposed to be a fairly routine patrol mission but end up in a fight for their lives. The rest is – literally – history.



The film steers clear of delving into the politics behind the unpopular war and chooses instead to focus on the bravery and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand men that were there mostly because they had to be, not because they chose to be. It immerses you in the intensity of the battle as the men are attacked from all sides in a flurry of gun fire and artillery, unable to escape or even move. Every lingering shot on a soldier or moment of quiet has you nervously waiting for a shot to ring out. Slow motion scenes of bodies flying through the air like rag dolls and soldiers firing their weapons frantically into a crowd of anonymous bodies are both grotesquely beautiful and hauntingly effective. My knuckles were sore at the end of the film from unconsciously clenching my hands in suspense.



I only just managed to hold it together - with some large gulps of soft drink to push that lump in my throat back down - during a roll call scene in the aftermath, which was interspersed with footage of the bloody, gruesome battle ground. That is, until the credits started rolling (make sure you hang around for them) - and along with them a list of the names and ages of all the Aussies and Kiwis that didn't survive the Battle of Long Tan - ages 19-22 and not a year older.

I'm ashamed to admit I'd never even heard of the Battle of Long Tan before, but Danger Close put names and faces (again, don't rush out before the credits) to the battle, which made it all the more heart-breaking and inspiring.

For your chance to win one of 25 double passes thanks to our mates at Transmission Films simply email your full name, address and response to the question below to [email protected]

The lead role in Danger Close is played by Travis WHO?

In cinemas Aug 8, competition closes midnight Aug 4th 

Comments

  • nothin_to_lose

    05 Aug 2019

    I was privileged to go to an advanced screening last week. Fantastic film. A few anomaly’s but truely catches the human story. Don’t pass up the chance to see this epic.

  • swingers692018

    01 Aug 2019

    Woops pit my answer in the wrong spot.

  • swingers692018

    01 Aug 2019

    Travis fimmell.

  • Mylife2Live

    01 Aug 2019

    Sooo looking forward to this!!!