The story begins on the Thames River, where Marlow reminds his listeners that even England was once one of the "dark places of the earth". This establishes the theme that savagery is not a geographic trait but a potential within all human hearts.
Upon arriving in Africa, Marlow witnesses the "absurdity of evil"—native laborers in chains and a man trying to carry water in a bucket with a hole in it. Here, he first hears the name Kurtz , a legendary agent rumored to be a "prodigy" of humanity, yet deeply entrenched in the ivory trade. 7. Hearts of Darkness (1)
Director Francis Ford Coppola famously stated, "My film is not about Vietnam. It is Vietnam". The first phases of production in the Philippines were plagued by "logistical horrors". Production Disasters: The story begins on the Thames River, where
A massive typhoon destroyed the sets, halting filming for three months. Here, he first hears the name Kurtz ,
Marlon Brando (playing Kurtz) arrived on set overweight, unprepared, and having not read the source material, forcing Coppola to rewrite and improvise much of the ending. Core Themes to Explore