Director: Michael Cimino Cinematographer: Vilmos Zsigmond
A little too indulgent and rather heavy on the symbolism, The Deer Hunter, co-written and directed by Mchael Cimino, is set in 1968 and follows a trio of Russian American steelworkers from Pennsylvania whose lives are changed forever after they fight in the Vietnam War. While it’s deemed far too depressing by some and caused considerable controversy for its depiction of the North Vietnamese as cruel sadists, Cimino mixes gritty realism with stylized visuals to create some truly harrowing and arresting sequences. Despite its supposed flaws, the film is also notable for how the talented Cimino manages to get under the skin of working class small town America.
