‘Danger Close’: first look at Travis Fimmel in Australian film

Following the start of production in April/May this year, the first photo has been released from Kriv Stenders’ DANGER CLOSE. Shot in Queensland, Stuart Beattie’s script tells the story of Australia’s involvement in the Battle of Long Tan.

From the official synopsis:

DANGER CLOSE tells the incredible true story of when in the late afternoon on August 18, 1966 in South Vietnam, for three and a half hours in torrential rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called Long Tan, Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel) and his dispersed company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought for their lives, holding off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle hardened North Vietnamese and Main Force Viet Cong soldiers. With their ammunition running out, their casualties mounting and the enemy massing for a final assault, amid non-stop artillery barrages, each man braced themselves for the fight of their lives.

The story follows the classic motif of a small number of soldiers holding off a much larger army. In 2016, there was a bit of controversy when more than 1,000 Australian veterans and their families travelled to Vietnam to participate in the 50th anniversary commemoration.

The restrictions around the Australian concert continue to spark debate as to whether Australia’s planned anniversary actions were tone deaf. It will be interesting to see how this film is received given that both sides continue to claim victory for the battle.

The film is being produced by John Schwarz (The Hunter’s Prayer, Killerman, Deadline Gallipoli), Michael Schwarz (The Hunter’s Prayer, Killerman, Deadline Gallipoli), and Martin Walsh (The Battle of Long Tan).