Surprisingly, Roger Donaldson’s Hollywood film “Thirteen Days” turned out to be quite a gift for our own politicians. Even though we might appear somewhat sinister in our dark Soviet past, the film illustrates how the thirst for power endures and triumphs.
The Universal Hunger for Power
Politicians rise to power regardless of nationality. In essence, they have no nationality; they are driven solely by the hunger for power. They are willing to sacrifice everything – women, children, and the elderly – as this raw, physical, and intensely alluring power surpasses all other considerations.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Flashback
The thirteen days of October 1962 are primarily remembered by older generations who recall how socialist Cuba became a thorn in the side of the United States. The infamous “Cuban Missile Crisis” erupted when U.S. reconnaissance planes detected the construction of Soviet missile bases on Cuban soil. To put it in perspective, it was as if the Afghan Taliban were to acquire land near Moscow today and begin building a nuclear power plant. President Kennedy imposed a quarantine on Cuba, but bombing the bases was a risky proposition. Firstly, to the Western world, the “Soviets” were perceived as alien and distant as the Taliban are today. Secondly, these “Soviets” adamantly denied the existence of any missiles on Cuban soil. Bombing the bases could trigger a full-scale nuclear war involving the entire United Nations. For two weeks, the world teetered on the brink of annihilation.
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“Thirteen Days”: A Political Game?
Hollywood, through Roger Donaldson, approached this historical event as a sort of linguistic game. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara states in the film, “This isn’t a map of the Caribbean; it’s a primer. Ships and bombers… Kennedy and Khrushchev are simply learning to talk to each other.” And as a game, two and a half hours of discussions about aerial photography, the problem of West Berlin, Nikita Khrushchev’s comrades, and bomb shelters for average Americans can indeed seem captivating. A warhead might detach, or the Soviet ambassador to the UN might deliver a brilliant display of demagoguery. Every action has a reaction, and behind the diplomatic notes, one can easily discern a classic game of “battleship.”
Flaws in the Portrayal
Unfortunately, John F. Kennedy, portrayed by Bruce Greenwood, doesn’t quite capture the essence of the real figure, especially when compared to Steven Culp’s striking resemblance to Robert Kennedy. Moreover, understanding all the McNamaras is a challenge, perhaps due to cultural differences. Similarly, Americans might struggle to grasp our own political figures. It’s difficult to replace action with talking heads, a lesson Donaldson seems to have overlooked, unlike the use of sex or mysticism.
For Americans, Kevin Costner’s portrayal of Kenny O’Donnell is that of a national hero, while to us, he’s virtually unknown. There’s also an abundance of typical Hollywood clichés: family values exemplified by O’Donnell’s devoted wife listening to him in the kitchen at three in the morning, Christian values with round-the-clock confessions during the conflict’s escalation, and humanitarian values with the funeral of the sole American pilot killed during the crisis. Overall, instead of linguistic games, Donaldson delivers a socialist realism of the highest order, reminiscent of “The Great Turnaround” or “The Third Blow.” Powerful men make history with the unwavering belief that they are the ones shaping it. Such films were actively produced during the era of personality cults. The question is, which personality cult is currently on the rise in the United States?
A Lesson for Everyone
Paradoxically, it is precisely because of this question that this old story should be watched by all our women and children, high school students, and their mothers. “Thirteen Days,” from a foreign world with a foreign ideology and about completely foreign men, clearly illustrates one simple thing: if there is a nuclear war, it will be because some men are asserting themselves. American, Afghan, Soviet, or Native American – it doesn’t matter. All politics is merely the self-affirmation of insecure and infantile male beings, much like a crude joke. So, wives and mothers, please pay attention to the insecurities of your “little boys.” Don’t turn them into idols, or they might turn you into radioactive dust.