Born on the Fourth of July

Born on the Fourth of July tells a story of a man who changed his beliefs of the Vietnam War after experiencing the fighting himself. Davidson and Lytle would say that this film is not authentic. They would say the movie is not authentic because most of the scenes are dramatized. The movie begins showing Ron Kovic Tom Cruise) doing all the normal things a teenager would do, like playing baseball and hanging out with his friends. This scene is authentic because it’s the life of any young man. But Kovi goes to fight in the war and suffers paralyzing wounds. When Ron Kovic returns home he expects a hero’s welcome, but instead he received discouragement. This is when the non authencity begins. He went to fight because he wanted to defend his country against communism but he soon finds out that the government had lied to him and his friends. He expresses his feelings to his parents and his naïve mother orders Ron Kovic to move out of the house. This scene of moving out is included to make the audience feel sympathy for the hero. The cries between mother and son makes tears run down the audiences cheeks. In Where Trouble Comes Davidson and Lytle states, “No matter how “true” a feature film tries to be to the emotions of it’s characters, it makes will always place dramatic considerations above strict fidelity to the historical record” (405), proves that even the moment of a son leaving his house because of a disagreement of war issues.
The film is easier to be able to pick out the exaggerations then a text. In this film the lighting, color, music and clothing all emphasis the idea that the war was a mistake. The changes of setting was more interesting then just seeing the Vietnam war and all the fighting. The love scenes were included to sell the movie as said by Davidson and Lytle “To justify the a budget of millions, a film must make money, and over the years box-office receipts have proved that audience are attracted to plot with an element of romance” (404).