While The Best Years Of Our Lives focuses on its characters’ return from a war considered just, The Deer Hunter follows three friends before, during, and after their experiences in an unpopular war. The tripartite structure begins with Steven’s (John Savage) wedding shortly before he, Nick (Christopher Walken), and Michael (Robert De Niro) ship out to Vietnam. The next section finds the three held as prisoners of war, forced to play Russian Roulette for the amusement of their captors before escaping. Finally, now home, Michael tracks down his fellow veterans and discovers the terrible aftermath of their time at war.

Notes by Kevin Coyne.

Screening as part of the IFI’s Odysseys season throughout July.

Tickets for 70mm screenings of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey on sale now!