Oscar-winning American filmmaker Oliver Stone has criticised what he described as the United States' continuing reliance on militarism, warning that the country could face an even larger and more devastating conflict if the lessons of previous wars are ignored.
Stone made the remarks in Rome while speaking at the Casa del Cinema during a screening of his acclaimed 1989 film, Born on the Fourth of July. His comments, reported by Italian daily La Repubblica, centred on the Vietnam War, its lasting consequences and what he considers to be the continued pattern of US involvement in military conflicts.
The filmmaker, who is also a Vietnam War veteran, reflected on the experience of war and the impact it has had on American society. He argued that the United States had developed what he characterised as a persistent appetite for military confrontation, describing it as a troubling feature of the country's political and foreign-policy history.
“America has a hunger for war, it's sort of a need of this country. I think it's the saddest thing I've ever seen,” Stone said.
He added that much of the country's approach to war appeared unreasonable to him and argued that prolonged military involvement had caused significant harm to the United States.
“A lot of it is just absurd, and our country has been deeply hurt by it,” he said.
Stone's comments were made in the context of his long-standing engagement with the subject of war through both his personal experience and filmmaking career. As a former US soldier who served in Vietnam, he has frequently drawn on the experiences and consequences of the conflict in his work.
His 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July, which stars a young American veteran whose life is profoundly affected by his experience in Vietnam, examines the physical and psychological consequences of war, as well as the political and social divisions surrounding the conflict. The film was based on the autobiography of Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic.
Stone also directed Platoon, another film dealing with the Vietnam War, as well as other politically focused works including JFK. His body of work has repeatedly explored questions surrounding war, political power, government decision-making and the experiences of individuals caught up in major historical events.
During his appearance in Rome, Stone said he believed that the lessons of earlier conflicts had not been adequately absorbed. Reflecting on developments since Born on the Fourth of July was released, he argued that what he considered to be old patterns had returned.
“We've gone back to bad habits. And the bad habits continue,” Stone said.
He suggested that the trajectory of American foreign policy had become increasingly focused on military power since the late 1980s. According to Stone, the United States had taken what he called a “much more militaristic path” since the release of his film.
His remarks also contained a warning about the potential consequences of failing to learn from previous wars. Stone urged audiences to watch films dealing with the realities of conflict and to remember the human costs associated with military action.
“I hope that people remember, watch it, and remember. Or we'll find ourselves in an even bigger and worse war. And there will be even more pain,” he warned.
Stone's comments reflect themes that have featured prominently throughout his career, particularly his concern about the consequences of military intervention and the experiences of soldiers and civilians affected by war.
The filmmaker's appearance in Rome therefore provided an opportunity to revisit the themes of Born on the Fourth of July more than three decades after its release. His reflections connected the Vietnam War, which remains a major subject of his artistic work, with his broader concerns about subsequent US military engagements.
At the heart of Stone's remarks was an appeal for greater attention to the historical consequences of war. He argued that remembering the experiences of previous generations could help society understand the human cost of military conflict and avoid repeating what he views as mistakes of the past.
Stone's statements were delivered as personal and political commentary during the film screening, reflecting his own experiences as a Vietnam veteran and his decades-long engagement with the subject of war through cinema.
