A Brief Analysis of “History from Above” in the Media

I recently watched No Escape, a film about an American family that relocates to an unidentified Southeast Asian country because the father gets a job offer there. The film was incessantly terrifying, leaving viewers unable to relax for more than a few seconds at a time; the majority of the footage shows Southeast Asians committing heinous acts while Americans desperately run for their lives.

No Escape is an evidently xenophobic film that depicts a struggle between two sides that are polar opposites: the Americans (“the good guys”) and the Southeast Asians (“the bad guys”). The film left little room for interpretation; for the most part, Southeast Asians are represented as violent savages who terrorize others, while Americans are portrayed as innocent bystanders.

While it is true that there is no possible way to depict a coup non-frighteningly, the fact that the film focuses on Southeast Asians being so statically brutal makes it xenophobic. On the other hand, it paints Americans as the saviors; it makes the audience sympathize with them and wish for them to prevail over the horrible circumstances they are stuck in. However, the film fails to take into account the innocent Southeast Asians who get caught up in the rebellion. Only a small portion of them are actually part of the group that wants to overthrow the government; however, the film makes it seem like the majority of Southeast Asians are rebels. This film offers a portrayal of “history from above” by highlighting how the coup affects the Americans rather than the country’s actual citizens. In the end, the Americans get saved while the Southeast Asians are left to perish. However, the film does not particularly convince the audience to feel compassion for them; it ends on a supposedly good note as the Americans escape such a barbarous country against all odds.

Films like these, which create an exaggerated distinction between entire races, contribute to Americans’ bias against those who are different from them. No Escape demonstrates how “history from above” can undermine a lot of people’s experiences in wartime. By portraying Southeast Asians as predominantly vicious individuals, it dehumanizes them. The film also does not refer to the psychological conditions of the rebels or Southeast Asian citizens, while it thoroughly delves into the inner conflict of the American father. Both those involved in the coup and the citizens were definitely afflicted by the horrors of war, but the film’s inability to refer to that at all prevents the audience from sympathizing for the Southeast Asians.

This type of mindset is particularly harmful in times of war. This xenophobia can convince citizens who were originally opposed to the war to support it and further reinforce the opinions of those who originally approved of the war.