History,War,Action,Drama
United States of America,France
Heaven & Earth is a 1993 biographical war drama film directed by Oliver Stone, based on the memoirs of Le Ly Hayslip. The film chronicles the life of Le Ly from her early years in a small village in central Vietnam through the Vietnam War and her eventual immigration to the United States.
As a child, Le Ly witnessed the horrors of war firsthand, including the execution of her father by the Viet Cong. She struggles to survive as the war rages on, constantly being caught in the crossfire between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese army.
During her journey to the city, Le Ly is captured by the Viet Cong and brutally beaten and raped by their soldiers. She eventually manages to escape and makes her way to Saigon, where she becomes involved in the black market and falls in love with a South Vietnamese officer.
Le Ly's life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Steve Butler, a kind and caring U.S. Marine who is stationed in Vietnam. Steve offers her hope for a better future and tells her he wants to marry her and take her to the United States.
As Le Ly adjusts to life in America, she struggles to reconcile her past with her new life and the cultural differences she encounters. Eventually, she finds a sense of peace and acceptance as she shares her story with others and helps to promote reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States.
Heaven & Earth received mixed reviews upon its release, with some critics praising Stone's direction and the performances of the cast, while others criticized the film for its uneven pacing and overly sentimental tone. Despite this, the film was recognized with several award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography.
