Danger Close (2019)Danger Close (2019) is a war film that dramatizes the Battle of Long Tan, a pivotal confrontation during the Vietnam War. Directed by Kriv Stenders, the movie is set on August 18, 1966, in the dense rubber plantations of Long Tan, South Vietnam. It follows a company of 108 young and largely inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers of the ANZAC forces as they find themselves outnumbered and surrounded by over 2,000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.
The film zeroes in on the heroics, fear, and camaraderie of these soldiers, focusing particularly on the strained but effective leadership of Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel). Facing relentless waves of enemy fire and heavy monsoon rains, the soldiers’ survival hinges on their determination, quick thinking, and support from artillery units back at base.
With intense battle sequences and a raw portrayal of the chaos and tragedy of war, Danger Close honors the valor and sacrifices of the young men at Long Tan and underscores the psychological toll such experiences leave behind. The movie serves as a tribute to the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought in Vietnam, particularly those involved in one of the war’s most harrowing battles.
