ON AUGUST 18, 1966, for three and a half hours in a rubber plantation called Long Tan, Major Harry Smith and his inexperienced company, of mainly conscripts, fought for their lives against 2500 seasoned Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.
With their ammunition running out, casualties mounting, and the enemy massing for a final assault, each man searches for the strength to go forward with honour, decency and courage.
This August this key battle in the Vietnam war will be brought to the big screen in a major movie, inspired by true events, by Red Dog director Kriv Stenders.
Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan, which previewed at Sydney Film Festival, is an emotional and visceral exploration of that battle which pitted 108 young Australian soldiers against 2500.
If August 8 is too long to wait, you can check out the dramatic trailer from Transmission Films which follows Major Harry Smith (Fimmel) as he leads the dispersed company young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers as they fight for their lives, holding off an overwhelming enemy force of battle-hardened North Vietnamese soldiers.
Finding strength in each other amid a furious battle, the trailer shows the heroism, mateship and sacrifice made by Delta Company at the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most savage and decisive ANZAC engagements in Australian military history.
Transmission Films joint managing director Andrew Mackie said said the movie was an Australian epic "inspired by an incredible ANZAC story".
"This trailer showcases the dedication of the filmmaking team to this story and we can't wait for audiences to embrace the film when it's released in cinemas," he said.
"Our cast and crew have put their hearts and souls into the making of this important film and we are all eagerly counting down the days until audiences can see and experience it for themselves," said producers Martin Walsh.
"It has been a long journey for us to realise this film but it has been an even longer journey for audiences waiting to see a contemporary ANZAC story immortalised on screen.
"Sadly, it has been more than 30 years since our last epic Australian war films; Gallipoli in 1981 and The Lighthorsemen in 1987.
"Through this film we wanted to help modernise our ANZAC narrative and create our new ANZAC myths and legends by honouring an entire generation of Vietnam veterans."
- Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is out in cinemas on August 8.
- dangerclosemovie.com
Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
